Security Watch | Matt Hines » SonicWall buying Aventail

June 13, 2007 | Comments: (0)

SonicWall buying Aventail

TAGS: Security

Network security specialists SonicWall announced a deal to buyout SSL VPN appliance maker Aventail for $25 million in cash on June 13.

Expected to close in July 2007, the companies pitched the deal as a transaction that "brings together complementary technologies to serve a broader customer set."

The deal validates what many industry analysts have been predicting in terms of continued consolidation in the network security space, with Aventail's remote access hardware fitting in alongside SonicWall's UTM, e-mail and content filtering devices.

SonicWall also makes its own SSL VPN appliances.

By combining the two firm's remote access product lines, SonicWall executives said that they will now be able to target more enterprise customers, as its own VPNs had been aimed primarily at the SMB set.

"The Aventail acquisition is an important step in our growth strategy. We will compete more effectively in the remote access space, building on complementary elements in our two organizations, and offer new solutions that enhance our relevance for today's dynamic enterprise," Matthew Medeiros, president and CEO at SonicWall, said in a statement. "The addition of Aventail's capabilities significantly advances our ability to serve the evolving needs of [customers]. We will continue our investment in leadership across all price points of the SSL VPN space."

Evan Kaplan, Aventail's president and CEO, called the deal "an exciting move," and praised the ability for his company to expand its customer base as a result of being acquired. Both companies also stressed new channel opportunities that will result from the cross-fertilization of their respective distribution partners.

"SonicWall has a strong history of innovation and a successful go-to-market strategy through its worldwide channel, which offers a wide variety of products relevant to Aventail’s customers and channel partners," said Kaplan in a news release. "Our combined product sets and expertise offer great potential for future cross-development and growth."

The companies said that SonicWall plans to augment the current feature sets of both providers' products in the near future.

Posted by Matt Hines on June 13, 2007 12:47 PM

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