Check Point Acquires Protect Data

By Brian Turner

Check Point Software is planning to acquire Protect Data, the owner of Pointsec Mobile Technologies.

Subject to approval by regulators and shareholders, it is anticipated that the acquisition will be completed in January. The acquisition continues the current trend for consolidation in the IT security industry.

Check Point develops virtual private network (VPN), firewall and management tools to secure corporate networks, while Pointsec provides endpoint security products, including full-disk encryption and password protection for PCs, laptops, and handheld devices.

The acquisition will enable Check Point to expand its unified security architecture into client-side data security, an area that is emerging rapidly.

Check Point will incorporate Pointsec’s products into its unified security architecture, allowing its customers to deploy, manage and monitor both data and network security policies from a single framework. This will reduce the cost and complexity of security implementation. It should also improve its effectiveness. The acquisition would enable Pointsec to expand internationally.

Pointsec has itself recently acquired UK firm Reflex Magnetics. The acquisition enabled the company to extend client-side security to lock down PC ports and portable storage devices in addition to its traditional hard disk encryption and access control tools.

While Check Point will gain a comprehensive set of client-side data security tools from the acquisition of Pointsec, integrating the multiple product lines is expected to be a complicated undertaking.

Check Point is continuing its expansion with the development of further technologies and would consider further acquisitions to extend its product portfolio.