Cisco Nabs Neohapsis to Boost Security Services

Cisco (CSCO) said it will buy Neohapsis, a privately-held, Chicago-based security consultancy that will provide the network giant’s clients with advisory services spanning applications, compliance, the cloud, risk management, mobile and network infrastructure.

Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed by either party. The acquisition is expected to close in FQ2 2015 at which time Neohapsis will become part of Cisco’s one-year old Security Services unit, headed by Bryan Palma, Cisco senior vice president and general manager.

Neohapsis, which began as a consulting boutique in 1997 and was acquired in 2006, takes its name from the Greek derivation of “new happenings.” The company’s clients, which span a variety of verticals, include about 10 of the Fortune 50 and 60 of the Fortune 500.

With Cisco looking to stay abreast of rivals Check Point (CHKP), Fortinet (FTNT), Palo Alto Networks (PANW), and others in the hotly-contested network security arena, adding security services is a necessary move to provide clients with an integrated solution.

“There has never been a greater need to understand the impact that security threats can have on a company’s bottom line,” Hilton Romanski, Cisco Business Development head and senior vice president, wrote in a blog post. “For these reasons, experienced security advice is now among the table stakes required to assess and address the threat landscape that faces enterprises today,” he said.

“The right advisory service can change all of that,” Romanski said, referring to Neohapsis.

Romanski said partners have a significant play with Cisco Security Services.

“Together, Cisco, Neohapsis and our partner ecosystem will deliver comprehensive services to help our customers build the security capabilities required to remain secure and competitive in today’s markets,” he said. “This will help our customers overcome operational and technical security vulnerabilities, achieve a comprehensive view of their risks, take advantage of new business models, and define structured approaches for better protection.”