IBM doubles down security with Fiberlink acquisition, aggressive academic partnering
IBM is continuing its acquisition streak with the purchase of Fiberlink Communications, a Philadelphia-based software company that develops mobile device management and security solutions. No financial terms were disclosed.
Fiberlink is best known for its MaaS360 platform, a cloud-based service that is used by banks, healthcare providers, and manufacturers worldwide to safely connect employee-owned devices to their corporate networks. The offering provides self-service BYOD capabilities while greatly simplifying deployment, enabling customers to roll out in a matter of minutes and cut costs, according to IBM. Big Blue will offer MaaS360 on its SoftLayer cloud infrastructure and as an on-premise solution. The buyout is expected to close later this year.
“In a mobile first world, clients require a comprehensive mobile management and security offering. Often times they integrate solutions on their own and take on unnecessary risk,” commented Robert LeBlanc, the senior vice president of IBM’s Middleware Software group. “To protect and enhance the complete mobile experience, it’s crucial to secure the app, user, content, data and the transaction. The acquisition of Fiberlink will enable us to offer these expanded capabilities to our clients, making it simple and quick to unlock the full potential of mobility.”
IBM is tackling security from multiple angles. Shortly after announcing its purchase of Fiberlink, the tech juggernaut revealed that 11 additional schools have signed up for its Cyber Security Innovation Program to train students on protecting data in mobile devices and cloud environments.
Participants receive access to IBM software, course materials and sample curricula, as well as case studies and other educational content. The newest program members include Fordham University, Georgia Institute of Technology, San Jose State University, Southern Methodist University, Technische Universität Darmstadt in Germany, Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore, Universidad Cenfotec in Costa Rica, Universiti Kebangsaan in Malaysia, The University of South Carolina, University of Texas at Dallas, and Wroclaw University of Economics in Poland.
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