Websense snaps up SurfControl

Web filtering firm Websense said yesterday that it is to acquire rival security firm SurfControl for a cash payment of approximately $400m. 

Websense said that it planned to enhance its product offerings by merging the research databases of the two companies to offer a broader set of solutions.

The company pledged to support SurfControl's layered software web security solutions at least through to 2010.

"The combination of Websense and SurfControl is expected to benefit customers, partners and shareholders by creating an IT security solutions company with the scale and product offering to compete more effectively with large global security software companies," said Gene Hodges, chief executive at Websense.

"Additionally, by improving operational efficiencies, we believe we can generate operating margins in the combined business similar to the historical levels we have achieved in our own web security business."

A further objective of the acquisition, according to Websense, is to complement and accelerate the firm's stated growth initiatives, particularly in the strategically important small business segment.

"We are especially excited about having SurfControl's BlackSpider on-demand content security solution available to our global customer base," said Hodges.