Verizon Business set to buy Cybertrust

IP network provider Verizon Business has announced it is to acquire managed security services specialist Cybertrust in a deal that will see Verizon expand its global presence and capabilities into Europe and Asia, according to experts.

Verizon will gain Cybertrust's mature identity management, vulnerability and threat management services; and professional services, including forensics and risk analysis.

Cybertrust is also home to the ICSA Labs, an independent division responsible for security product certification and testing.

"While we had a security practice at Verizon Business, we didn't have the global reach or breadth of professional services, forensic and identity management capabilities our customers were asking us for," explained Verizon chief marketing officer Nancy Gofus. “Together we're able to rapidly deploy more compelling, innovative and comprehensive solutions than either of us could achieve on our own."

Cybertrust had already been reselling through Verizon Business before the deal, so the two firms should be a fairly good fit. The acquisition follows other similar moves by telcos recently into the managed security space, such as BT’s acquisition of Conterpane, explained Ovum analyst Graham Titterington.

"For Verizon it will be a massive increase in their capabilities and help them in global expansion because Cybertrust is evenly balanced between America, Europe and Asia," Titterington explained. "Cybertrust were reasonably successful but they were still a small company competing with IBM and Symantec."

The firms expect the transaction will close within the next 60-90 days.