McAfee Acquires Secure Computing

McAfee is buying Secure Computing for $465 million, rounding out its network security business and strengthening its security risk management offerings among companies of all sizes.At least that's the plan.

The $465 million acquisition will help McAfee -- which a year ago pledged a renewed focus on small and midsize businesses -- expand its security-as-a-service offering, and to sell more products and services to Secure Computing's 22,000 customers worldwide, says an article from IDG News Service. Secure Computing's products include Webwasher, a tool for filtering corporate Web traffic; Ironmail encrypted mail servers; Sidewinder firewall appliances; and SnapGear VPN devices.

Together the companies will deliver "the industry's most complete network security solution to businesses of all sizes," according to a joint statement from McAfee and Secure Computing.

A one-stop security shop such as the one McAfee is building would certainly make life easier for small and midsize businesses, many of which report needing as long as a week to recover from a hacker's evil doing, The deal is expected to close next quarter.

The acquisition is also McAfee's second purchase in as many months. On the last day of July the company announced that it was acquiring Reconnex for $46 million to help round out its data protection strategy.