CA lays out $614m to buy Veracode for DevOps security boost

Will offer service from the cloud

CA Technologies has said it will purchase software security firm Veracode for $614m.

The move is designed to give CA a strong position in the DevOps markets by letting firms integrated security testing from the start of software development cycles, rather than as an after-thought.

CA said it would use Veracode's services to offer scalable application security testing (AST) as a cloud offering, which should enable companies to move faster with the development of applications and services.

"This acquisition will unify CA's Security and DevOps portfolios with a SaaS-based platform that seamlessly integrates security into the software development process," said Ayman Sayed, chief product officer at CA Technologies

Expanding on this in a blog post, Sayed noted that according to US government reports, 90 per cent of all security vulnerabilities stem from flaws in software. As such, helping tackle this at source will have major benefits.

"From building and testing to deployment and operations, speed and quality is of the essence," he wrote.

"And even more importantly, to effectively secure applications at the speed of DevOps, security needs to be completely integrated into the development process, from start to iteration to general availability and use."

Veracode CEO Bob Brennan said that becoming part of CA would help increase the reach of the firm's products, enabling more businesses to embrace digital transformation and the benefits it can offer.

"We provide over 1400 small and large enterprise customers the security they need to confidently innovate with the web and mobile applications they build, buy and assemble, as well as the components they integrate into their environments," he said.

"By joining forces with CA Technologies, we will continue to better address growing security concerns, and enable them to accelerate delivery of secure software applications that can create new business value."

The deal is expected to close in early April.