Cisco snaps up Protego Networks to beef up security

By Steve Malone

Posted on 21 Dec 2004 at 14:23

Internet hardware supplier Cisco has bought Californian outfit Protego Networks for $65mn in cash. Protego's security monitoring and threat management will go towards the further development of Cisco's Self-Defending Network.

Protego is already part of Cisco's AVVID (Architecture for Voice, Video, and Integrated Data) programme for the development of 'intelligent' networks. The two companies also have a history of providing joint sales proposals to customers.

Protego products, aimed at small to medium sized companies, complement Cisco's own efforts by being able to detect any unusual behaviour, analyse the nature of the threat and take automatic action against any attack on a network. Protego's strengths are particularly in network intelligence, an understanding of network topology and automated mitigation capabilities.

Cisco says that the Protego development team will join it's Security Technology Group.

The deal is expected to be completed by the end of January 2005.