Akamai buys Prolexic to boost cloud computing security

Akamai Technologies has announced its intention to acquire security firm Prolexic Technologies in order to offer customers using its cloud platform protection against cyber attack from the internet.
The acquisition, which is expected to close in the first half of 2014, will see Akamai purchase all of the outstanding equity of Prolexic in exchange for a cash payment of approximately $370 million. The buyout is subject to the usual conditions, including regulatory approvals.

Akamai, which operates a cloud-based content delivery network with a global presence, said the move will enable it to provide customers with a comprehensive portfolio of security solutions to defend their web and IP infrastructure against application-layer, network-layer and data centre attacks.

This will include protecting the full suite of enterprise IP applications Akamai offers, from email to file transfers and virtual private networking (VPN), especially against the threat of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.

"Any company doing business on the internet faces an evolving threat landscape of attacks aimed at disrupting operations, defacing the brand, or attempting to steal sensitive data and information," said Akamai chief executive Tom Leighton.

The firm also said that being able to rely on one provider for internet performance and security will greatly simplify resolution of network availability issues for customers, and offering them a single point of reference for accountability.

Akamai's move may also be seen as part of a wider trend by internet and cloud computing vendors to buy in security expertise to counter the growing threat from cyber criminals.

Earlier this year, Cisco snapped up cyber security specialist Sourcefire for $2.7bn in order to bolster the security of its products, while Blue Coat Systems acquired Solera Networks.