IBM acquires Watchfire
Worries about corporate security and compliance are rising, and IBM plans to incorporate Watchfire’s solutions into Rational software and Tivoli
IBM hs finalized plans to acquire Waltham, Massachusetts-based Watchfire Corporation, a privately held security and compliance testing specialist. The acquisition is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2007. Financial details were not disclosed.
Big Blue’s move is not surprising. Online security and privacy incidents are on the rise, resulting in loss of customer trust, costly technology and business remedies, and often legal battles. According to a 2005 CSI/FBI Survey, internal security attacks cost U.S. businesses $400 billion per year. Watchfire technology aims to reduce these security risks and the associated costs to their bottom line.
Watchfire develops Web application security and compliance testing solutions. These solutions will be incorporated into IBM’s Rational software, which offers clients software quality management solutions, including the ability to perform functional and performance tests while developing software. IBM’s move means that customers will now be able to include security, compliance, and quality testing as part of their web application development. Watchfire technology will also complement existing IBM Tivoli identity, access, and compliance management software offerings and ISS.
