Blockbuster: HP Buys Fortify Date:
August Price Tag: Rumored to be at least $200 millionSpecialty Gained: Software security
Darkhorse: Boeing Buys Narus
Date: JulySpecialty Gained: real-time network traffic and analytics softwareSignificance: This buy allows the aerospace giant a toe-hold into the lucrative government cybersecurity space in order to better compete with other mega-government vendors such as Northrop Grumman.
Blockbuster: CA Technologies Buys Arcot
Date: August Price Tag: $250 millionSpecialty Gained: Fraud prevention and authentication
Dark Horse: Quest Software buys Volcker Informatick
Date: JulySpecialty Gained: Identity and access management softwareSignificance: Quest will bolster its play in the identity and access management (IAM) space by purchasing Volcker’s strong user and resource provisioning, self-service and workflow functionalities to add to the existing Quest IAM solution set.
Blockbuster: IBM Buys BigFix
Date: JulyPrice Tag: $400 millionSpecialty Gained: Endpoint security and monitoring
Dark Horse: Dell Buys Kace
Date: FebruarySpecialty Gained: Endpoint securitySignificance: In addition to a passel of systems management solutions, Kace provides Dell with robust configuration and patch management capabilities focused squarely on the SMB.
Blockbuster: Symantec Buys PGP and Guardian Edge
Date: April Price Tag: $370 million Specialty Gained: Encryption
Dark Horse: Raytheon buys Technology Associates
Date: OctoberSpecialty Gained: Data Extraction and analysis; information assurance servicesSignificance: Raytheon added another building block to its already strong federal cybersecurity service fortress with its pick-up of Technology Associates
Blockbuster: 3M Buys Cogent
Date: AugustPrice Tag: $943 million Specialty Gained: Biometric security
Dark Horse: Oracle buys Passlogix
Date: OctoberSpecialty Gained: Single Sign On (SSO) authenticationSignificance: This new capability will better enable Oracle customers to comply with strict compliance mandates around the way IT systems are accessed.
Blockbuster: Symantec Buys Verisigns Authentication
Business Date: May Price Tag: $1.28 billion Specialty Gained: SSL authentication
Dark Horse: Trustwave Buys Breach Security Date: June
Specialty Gained: Web application firewallSignificance: Trustwave’s play within the PCI security market was shored up with this important technology buy, adding Breach’s mature WAF to Trustwave’s portfolio.
Blockbuster: Juniper Networks buys Altor Networks
Date: DecemberPrice Tag: $95 millionSpecialty Gained: Cloud and virtual security
Dark Horse: Webroot buys Bright Cloud
Date: JulySpecialty Gained: Cloud-based malware detectionSignificance: Webroot shores up its Web protection offerings by purchasing Bright Cloud’s SaaS Web reputation and content classification capabilities.
Blockbuster: VMware Buys TriCipher
Date: August Price Tag: Rumored to be $118 million Specialty Gained: Authentication
Dark Horse: EMC buys Archer Technologies
Date: JanuarySpecialty Gained: Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) softwareSignificance: The addition of Archer Technologies further strengthens EMC’s RSA subsidiary when it comes to competing for highly sought-after compliance dollars.
Blockbuster: HP Buys ArcSight
Date: September Price Tag: $1.5 billion Specialty Gained: Security Information and Event Monitoring
Dark Horse: Oracle buys Secerno
Date: MaySpecialty Gained: Database securitySignificance: Oracle will integrate Secerno’s database firewall and activity monitoring functionality directly into its database products, particularly to the benefit of organizations looking for a stopgap in the patching lifecycle between patch release and actual deployment.
Blockbuster: Intel Buys McAfee
Date: AugustPrice Tag: $7.6 billionSpecialty Gained: Security across the enterprise and across all types of infrastructure
Dark Horse: AVG buys Droid Security
Date: NovemberSpecialty Gained: Mobile SecuritySignificance: AVG buys itself some more relevance in the antivirus market by making a serious play for protecting all classes of Android devices.