Digital security provider DigiCert Inc. disclosed today that it has acquired “internet of things” company Mocana Corp. for an undisclosed price.

Founded back in 2004, Mocana offers an IoT security platform designed for mission-critical security solutions for industrial control systems and IoT providers. The company’s on-device cybersecurity software and lifecycle management platform enable manufacturers and industrial companies to build self-defending systems that are tamper-resistant.

The company says its tightly integrated solutions minimize the risk of a cybersecurity breach, comply with industry standards and protect intellectual property by ensuring that devices and processes are trusted end-to-end, from device manufacturing to deployment. Unlike information technology department-based network security approaches, Mocana says, its solutions enable devices to protect themselves and prevent malware from being installed.

Mocana’s platform is designed to allow devices to defend themselves once a hacker gets behind a firewall or gains access to a computer on the inside of a private network. It does this by ensuring that both the device and its data can be trusted by securing the boot process and firmware while at the same time securing the transmission of data between the device, gateway and cloud.

Under the hood, Mocana’s main offering, TrustPoint, enables devices to encrypt sensitive data, authenticate themselves when connecting to a company’s backend infrastructure and transmit data via cryptographic network protocols such as SSH.

Mocana clients include ABB Ltd., Ciena Corp, Citrix Systems Inc., Eaton Corp. PLC, General Atomics, General Electric Company, HP Inc., Internation Business Machines Corp., Lenovo Group Ltd., Schneider Electric SE, Siemens AG and VMware Inc.

DigiCert plans to use the acquisition to accelerate its presence in the fast-growing IoT market. The combination of the two companies is said to provide customers with a means to manage device identity, secure connections, prevent device tampering and update firmware settings remotely and security once in the field.

“IoT security has been a challenge for device manufactures and operators,” DigiCert Chief Executive Officer John Merrill said in a statement. “With the addition of Mocana, DigiCert is building on its vision for delivering digital trust, a growing necessity in the IoT market as smart devices become ubiquitous in every corner of our personal and professional lives.”

Coming into its acquisition, Mocana had raised $95.7 million in funding, including rounds of $11 million in 2017 and $15 million in 2019. Investors include Sway Ventures, In-Q-Tel, Intel Capital, Southern Cross Venture Partners and SV Angel.

Image: DigiCert