Dell Readies BYOD Security Play With Credant Buy
Dell is splashing the cash on acquisitions as it snaps up data protection specialist Credant
Credant Technologies is the latest vendor to be snapped up by Dell as it continues to enhance its security portfolio.
Dell announced it had completed the acquisition of Credant for an undisclosed sum just one day after announcing the deal. The company joins Dell’s existing security operation but there was no word of any restructuring plans for the workforce.
Former partners
Credent protects and encrypts user and corporate data across multiple environments – from the PC to mobile to cloud. It secures an estimated two million endpoints and works with enterprises’ existing systems management processes. It also supports a range of mobile operating systems, tapping in nicely to the bring your own device (BYOD) trend that many IT departments are now having to deal with. It seems highly likely that Credant will be used to help Dell in its push into the mobile device management space.
The companies are very familiar with each other because each has their respective headquarters in Texas and have had a long-standing joint development partnership and OEM agreement. Dell uses Credant’s technology in its Data Protection Encryption offering.
“In today’s work environment data is always in flight – from work being done on a local PC being sent via email, stored on a USB drive, and saved in the cloud. Each one of those experiences represents a potential security risk,” said Jeff Clarke, president of end-user computing solutions at Dell.
“As a result, businesses need a data protection strategy that is comprehensive, flexible and easy to deploy. The Credant assets will complement and extend current Dell device security features to make Dell Latitude, OptiPlex and Precision PCs some of the world’s most secure,” he said.
Bob Heard, CEO and founder of Credant, added, “Protecting critical information has only become more important as organisations globally struggle to protect their data in an ever more complex world. This combination allows Credant to bring its deep capabilities in data security to Dell’s robust solution set and customer base.”
Channel concerns?
Dell has been making some notable acquisitions of late, especially in the security space. In January, 2011, it acquired information security services company SecureWorks and then in March this year it bought unified threat management (UTM) and firewall specialist SonicWALL. This was followed up by the colossal acquisition of Quest Software, an access management and monitoring specialist, for $2.4 billion (£1.5bn).
In particular, the acquisition of SonicWall did not prove overly popular in the channel, with SonicWall partners concerned that their investments in training schemes with the company would be wasted and they would be forced to integrate with Dell’s partner programme. It remains to be seen whether these same channel concerns will reappear with the Credant deal.