BlackBerry acquires WatchDox to enhance mobile security portfolio
Last month when BlackBerry reported fourth quarter financials, CEO John Chen stated that acquisitions would be a part of its strategy for success. Today, BlackBerry announced the planned acquisition of WatchDox, a secure enterprise file-sync-and-share (EFSS) provider.
The acquisition enhances BlackBerry's mobile security offerings. WatchDox maintains file security through DRM protection. Given the increasing number of data breaches, a secure solution like WatchDox that is integrated with BlackBerry services will be attractive to companies and government agencies.
CEO John Chen stated:
BlackBerry is constantly expanding the potential of data security so that it enables more collaboration and sharing rather than creating limitations. This acquisition represents another key step forward as we transition BlackBerry into the premier platform for secure mobile communications software and applications, supporting all devices and operating systems. Together with last year's Secusmart acquisition, Samsung partnership, our own internal development efforts, and now the acquisition of WatchDox, we now have capabilities to secure communications end-to-end from voice, text, messaging, data and now enterprise file-sync-and share.
The Inside BlackBerry Blog posted an informative Q&A between Billy Ho, BlackBerry Executive Vice President, Enterprise Products and Value Added Solutions, and Moti Rafalin, WatchDox CEO and co-founder.
WatchDox will be offered as a value-added solution and will be integrated with BES12. As stated in the press release, more than 150 of the Fortune 1000 - including the largest civilian federal agencies, six of the top twelve private equity firms and five of the six major Hollywood studios, healthcare firms and manufacturers - depend on WatchDox secure file-sharing solutions.
See also:
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