In a bid to boost its standing in the security space, BT has acquired Counterpane Internet Security, a California-based managed services provider founded by security guru Bruce Schneier.

The deal is part of BT’s strategy to grow its professional services arm. “We listened to our customers and analysts and it seems there’s an ever-increasing need for managed security services,” said Ray Stanton, global head of BT’s Business Continuity, Security and Governance Practice. “There’s no overlap between Counterpane and our services. Counterpane takes all the security information and turns it into something proactive, and it’s agnostic to vendors and equipment.”

Counterpane also welcomed the deal. “We now become part of a bigger security services option, rather than a standalone service, and BT has customers with massive networks that we had trouble getting,” Schneier said.

Schneier will continue in his role as Counterpane chief technology officer. “I can’t just abandon Counterpane, but slowly there’s lots of other areas in BT I’d like to get involved in,” he added.

Stanton supported this approach. “Bruce has a big brain and we want him to use it. He’ll get access to a larger research budget as well.”

Dustin Kehoe, a senior analyst at research firm Current Analysis, said the purchase makes sense for BT. “The company needed to improve its focus and capabilities around the area of security” he argued. “This will provide the company greater accessibility to a C-level audience and a stronger message platform.”