NetScreen Technologies has acquired Neoteris, a leader
in Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) virtual private network
technology.
The acquisition will cost NetScreen $245m (£146m) in stock and
$20m (£12m) in cash. The deal is expected to close by the end of
the year.
Neoteris has 36% of market share in the first half of 2003 for
the SSSL VPN technology sector, making it the top supplier,
according to research by Frost & Sullivan. Neoteris has more
than 550 enterprise customers.
Infonetics Research said it expected the market to exceed $600m
in sales by 2006.
F5 Networks has also announced its FirePass Controller, an SSL
VPN which the company is marketing as a result of its acquisition
of uRoam in July. This is Version 4.0 of FirePass Controller, but
the first under F5 ownership.
The rack-mounted unit is available now, and prices start at less
than $10,000 (£5,964).
Matt Hamblen writes for Computerworld