Cisco buying Neohapsis to boost security services
After the deal goes through sometime next spring, Cisco says Neohapsis will be part of its Security Services group and its partner network that was announced in September 2013. Cisco didn't say how much it is paying.
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Neohapsis brings to the table mobile and cloud security expertise and offers a range of services including payment card industry (PCI), HIPAA and HITECH compliance, security assessment, penetration testing, incident response and risk management.
Cisco's Security Services group has been expanding its offerings, adding Managed Threat Defense in April that identifies security risks that can't be detected with anti-virus software through the use of hardware, software and analytics tools.
Another part of the security service is culling security consultant talent from Israel, where the company is setting up a lab for training cyber security professionals.
Security hardware and software is already a $1 billion business for Cisco, and the company hopes to enhance that with its security-as-a-service offerings.
Cisco says that as attackers become more sophisticated and risks increase, businesses have responded with a greater variety of defenses from a variety of vendors. Many businesses need help managing these defenses as a cohesive whole, it says.
Cisco's head of business development says in a blog that the Neohapsis deal will move that goal along. "Together, Cisco, Neohapsis and our partner ecosystem will deliver comprehensive services to help our customers build the security capabilities required to remain secure and competitive in today's markets," he writes. "This will help our customers overcome operational and technical security vulnerabilities, achieve a comprehensive view of their risks, take advantage of new business models, and define structured approaches for better protection."
The Security Services group is overseen by Cisco Senior Vice President Bryan Palma.