Dell to buy SonicWALL
The Round Rock company wants to strengthen its security and software portfolio
PC company Dell said it will buy SonicWALL, in a move to expand its security and software portfolio.
The company produces what Dell describes as industry leading next generation firewalls, coupled with management firewalls, aimed at the enterprise market.
SonicWALL has over 300,000 customers that use its software, and has a 130 strong patent porfolio. Its customers include enterprises, government, universities and service providers.
But it also has products aimed at small and medium size businesses, and a channel of 15,000 resellers.
The San Jose company’s products will be under the umbrella of Dell’s PartnerDirect programme, and its existing channel partners will now be able to sell SonicWALL products too.
John Swainson, the recently appointed president of the Dell Software Group said the acquisition is par of a plan to build a strategic software portfolio.
Both boards of directors at the companies have approved the acquisition, but no details were revealed of how much Dell paid.