Forcepoint Buying Bitglass to Accelerate Data Security, Threat Protection

Continuing its M&A spree, Forcepoint is acquiring security service edge (SSE) provider Bitglass.

Bitglass’ SSE platform complements Forcepoint’s data-first secure access service edge (SASE) architecture. Forcepoint will accelerate its efforts to make data security and threat protection technologies easier for organizations to deploy and use.

As part of this acquisition, Forcepoint plans to integrate its secure access service edge (SASE) platform with Bitglass’ SSE combination of cloud access security broker (CASB), secure web gateway (SWG), zero trust network access (ZTNA), cloud security posture management (CSPM) and data loss prevention (DLP) managed from a single cloud-based console. it has more than 300 points of presence globally.

The acquisition should close later this year. Forcepoint didn’t say how much it’s shelling out for Bitglass.

Huge Opportunity for Forcepoint Partners

Parag Patel is Forcepoint‘s senior vice president of channel sales.

Forcepoint’s Parag Patel

“As we work through the integration process in the coming weeks, we’ll be communicating more to partners,” he said. “But this does present a huge opportunity for Forcepoint partners who will be able to resell Bitglass in addition to Forcepoint solutions.”

Bitglass is a SSE leader, Patel said. Its platform secures access to and usage of information as organizations transform to the cloud.

This is Forcepoint’s third technology acquisition this year, Patel said. The company is on a mission to strategically build, partner and acquire technologies that deliver the “industry’s best-in-class SASE architecture.”

It previously acquired Cyberinc and Deep Secure.

Bitglass Partners Welcome

“Bitglass’ partner ecosystem is now a subset of Forcepoint’s, and we welcome partners wanting to build stronger relationships with Forcepoint,” Patel said. “There are no immediate changes to the current sales process for Bitglass. But we will engage with all partners and provide further details as we work through the integration process.”

Manny Rivelo is Forcepoint’s CEO.

“Complexity is the enemy of security,” he said. “IT teams today are faced with the reality that securing a hybrid work environment is even more complex than the move to work from home was last year. With the acquisition of Bitglass, Forcepoint will be accelerating our ability to address customers’ widespread need for enabling hybrid workforces to safely access and use information everywhere – in the web, cloud and data center – more easily than ever before.”