Cisco snaps up IronPort

Consolidation in the security sector continues with acquisition of privately-held IronPort

Cisco has added to its acquisition tally by snapping up messaging security appliance vendor IronPort for $830m in cash and stock.

The acquisition of privately-held IronPort is subject to various standard closing conditions and is expected to close in the third quarter of Cisco’s fiscal year 2007.

Once the deal is closed, the IronPort team and product portfolio will operate as a business unit in Cisco’s Security Technology Group, reporting to Richard Palmer, senior vice president of the Group.

"We feel there is enormous potential for enhanced email and message protection solutions to be integrated into the existing Cisco Self-Defending Network framework," said Palmer. "Using the network as a flexible platform to integrate IronPort's technologies, Cisco will be able to build new security applications as customers' demands evolve."

Scott Weiss, chief executive of IronPort said: “Internet messaging threats continue to get more sophisticated, and IronPort has repeatedly delivered industry leading solutions. Integrating IronPort's messaging security technology with Cisco's Self-Defending Network will enable a new level of defence for our customers."