Symantec today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately held Gideon Technologies, a provider of standards-based information security solutions that automate and orchestrate IT security and risk management.

Symantec says it is acquiring Gideon Technologies to extend its Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) validated configuration and vulnerability assessment solutions, and to enhance its ability to serve the needs of public sector customers.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of March and is subject to customary closing conditions. The financial terms of the acquisition are not being disclosed.

SCAP is a suite of specifications that standardize the format and nomenclature by which security software products communicate software flaw and security configuration information. It is used to automate vulnerability and patch checking, technical control compliance activities, and security measurement.

SCAP is a requirement of the U.S. federal government, which maintains a diverse IT environment where interoperability and data sharing are essential to addressing the evolving threat landscape, Symantec says.

The acquisition of Gideon Technologies' SecureFusion product will complement Symantec's compliance offerings and integrate with the Symantec Management Platform (formerly the Altiris platform), Symantec says.

The addition of SecureFusion will help Symantec provide customers with comprehensive, automated situational awareness, continuous compliance, and remediation management capabilities, the company says.

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