IBM makes database security acquisition

Deal will bolster IBM's information security portfolio

IBM has agreed to purchase database security and monitoring specialist Guardium.

The company said that the deal, of which terms are not being disclosed, would strengthen its presence in the database security and automation sectors.

Guardium, which is based in Massachusetts, specialises in tools that manage access to highly-sensitive databases, along with automated compliance and management tools.

With the acquisition, IBM said that it hopes to integrate Guardium's tools and services into its Information Management Software line as well as its new Business Analytics and Optimisation Consulting platform.

"Guardium gives clients unprecedented visibility and control over their data access activities while taking advantage of automation to deliver rapid return on investment," said Guardium chief executive Ram Metser.

"The combination of IBM and Guardium provides clients with a comprehensive solution for safeguarding critical enterprise information and preventing fraud without the complexity of traditional approaches."

The deal is the latest in a recent acquisition push for IBM. In May the company agreed to purchase data discovery vendor Exeros and was said to be among the suitors for troubled outsourcing firm Satyam.

Big Blue lost out on the big prize of 2009, however, when anti-trust worries torpedoed a possible deal with Sun Microsystems. Rival Oracle later inked a merger deal with Sun worth some $7.4bn.