McAfee acquires Onigma

This is a very busy fall for the data protection space.  I define that space as leak prevention + encryption + device management (as in Safend and Devicewall).  I have started to compile a matrix of all the partnerships that have been announced and those that are possible. It seems that every leak prevention vendor has to partner with every email encryption vendor and everyone has to have a complete story. 

There is definitely a tie between leak prevention and compliance so it makes sense that McAfee would jump into this space. It fits with their recent interest in control and compliance.  According to Raphael Fogel at Haaritz  McAfee is purchasing Onigma, a leak prevention company, for somewhere between $15 million and $25 million.  

This is an interesting move for McAfee watchers. I am impressed that McAfee is able to make acquisitions despite the recent turmoil at the top with the firing of their president and resignation of their CEO/chairman over a stock options investigation. That the interim CEO, Dale Fuller, can follow through on an acquisition strategy so soon after taking over the reins is a very positive sign.

Of course, acquiring a leak prevention company is one third of executing on a data protection strategy. Time to line up the potential targets for acquisition. Entrust for encryption? Safend? (as long as you are setting up operations in Israel) 

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