Cisco Systems Inc. announced on Monday it will acquire Meetinghouse Data Communications Inc. of Portsmouth, NH.
Meetinghouse provides a client-side 802.1X supplicant security software that allows enterprise customers to restrict network access to only authorized users and/or host devices attempting to gain access to networked resources through both wired and wireless media. When integrated with Cisco's existing security portfolio, Meetinghouse's AEGIS SecureConnect products will enable Cisco to provide a single unified wired and wireless client to enterprise customers that will help them reduce operational costs by simplifying the security management of a broad array of host devices and operating systems.
"The growth in the number of cases of unauthorized access to sensitive and confidential information in enterprise networks has increased the need for securing connectivity through robust, easy-to-manage client-based security solutions," said Brett Galloway, vice president and general manager of the wireless networking business unit. "The Meetinghouse software supplicant is a natural extension to existing Cisco initiatives such as the Cisco Self Defending Network via Network Admission Control and the Cisco Compatible Extensions program."
Under the terms of this agreement, Cisco will pay approximately $43.7 million in cash and assumed options for Meetinghouse. The acquisition is subject to various standard closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the first quarter of Cisco's fiscal year 2007, ending October 28, the company said. Upon close of the transaction, the Meetinghouse team and products will be integrated into the wireless networking business unit, reporting to Galloway.
Cisco Systems Inc. www.cisco.com
