Network security solutions firm Fortinet Inc. today announced it has acquired security as a service startup OPAQ Networks Inc. for an undisclosed sum.

Founded in 2017, OPAQ offers networking and security services with a platform that provides a cloud-based Secure Access Service Edge designed to protect an entire distributed network including data centers, branch offices, remote users and “internet of things” devices. OPAQ’s SASE infrastructure is said to be optimized for security and hyperscale performance to allow users to implement and enforce consistent zero trust security policies, centrally monitor network and security performance, generate reports and manage security infrastructure.

Coming into its acquisition, OPAQ has eight offices across the U.S. with a headcount of about 50 people. The company acquired security-focused network microsegmentation provider Drawbridge Networks Inc. for an undisclosed sum in 2017.

Fortinet intends to combine OPAQ’s zero trust network access solution to its existing SASE offering to provide better services to its customers.

“Fortinet’s broad Security Fabric combined with OPAQ’s patented zero trust cloud architecture will offer customers and partners more choices in how they can consume Fortinet’s best-of-breed networking and security solutions,” Fortinet said in a statement. “Often cloud security providers are missing a strong security backbone or a scalable, high performant cloud architecture or, in some cases, both. Fortinet will be the only vendor to deliver True Zero Trust cloud security with the most complete, partner-friendly SASE platform in the market, delivering enterprise-grade security that is continuously innovated.”

The combination of Fortinet’s existing offerings with OPAQ’s ZTNA platform will cover next-generation firewall and software-defined wide-area networks along with web security, sandboxing, advanced endpoint, identity/multi-factor authentication, multicloud workload protection, cloud application security broker, browser isolation and web application firewalling capabilities.

OPAQ had raised $43.5 million in venture capital funding, according to Crunchbase. Investors included Greenspring Associates, Columbia Capital, Harmony Harmony Partners, Zero Gravity and Sway Ventures.

Image: OPAQ