More partnerships in the data protection space

I mentioned last week that the face of data protection was changing.  This week and next will there are even more announcements. So last week it was Websense essentially OEM-ing PortAuthority’s technology and Vericept linking up with Entrust to create a “encrypt sensitive information” email solution. Today Reconnex is announcing a similar link-up with PostX. On top of that, a company that is super strong in the document control space but is edging into data protection, WorkShare, is linking up with Secure Computing’s new acquisition, Ciphertrust. Is that confusing enough?

Overall trend here is for those companies who have figured how to identify and control the movement of critical information to start leveraging their technology with partners that already have a presence in some part of the data flow space. Web in the case of Websense, email in the cases of Entrust, PostX, and Cipherturst.   Time for the rest of the players to find dance partners before the music stops.  Is Vontu trying to stay unencumbered because they expect to be bought by Symantec (yawn) or Check Point (don’t do it Check Point!)?  What about the USB control companies' products (Safend, Devicewall)?  When are they going to join this mad rush to combine leak prevention, encryption, and device management? 

More to come. Stay tuned. Subscribe to the Data Protection Weekly newsletter, and enjoy the show!