Trend Micro to acquire fingerprint-based endpoint solutions provider Provilla

(29/10/2007)

Organisations of all sizes are vulnerable to data leaks that expose them to security, intellectual property, monetary, privacy and compliance threats. On-the-move workers, equipped with unsecured, unprotected mobile computers, may inadvertently or intentionally expose confidential company information via wireless networks. With an ever increasing array of USB-based devices, all corporate desktops are now also at risk.

An organisation's time, money, and reputation are at risk when such a data leak occurs, with security professionals urgently attempting to recover sensitive data and mend the leak. Enterprise security professionals are in constant battle: Even when old leaks are controlled, new data leaks frequently occur through a plethora of other endpoints.

Trend Micro Incorporated has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Provilla, Inc., a provider of fingerprint-based intelligent endpoint solutions for data leak prevention (DLP) in organisations. Under the agreement, Provilla will operate as a subsidiary of Trend Micro’s U.S. affiliate. Provilla’s data leak prevention experts as well as technology and products will enhance the Trend Micro portfolio of easily deployed and managed multi-layered content-security solutions for business customers.

Provilla technology intelligently controls leaks at multiple endpoints. The technology also lets organisations know the exact locations of sensitive data for active and effective control. Provilla products also educate and sensitise end users to corporate policies and regulatory requirements.

Trend Micro will continue to offer Provilla's stand-alone products for the near term as well as gradually integrate Provilla’s capabilities into its own enterprise, small and medium business solutions. Provilla products are deployed in North America, China, Taiwan, Europe and Japan.

“Trend Micro is focused on providing customers with the most useful, intelligent, centrally-controlled content-security solutions to address the latest unpredictable, malicious threats entering or leaving organisations, and that includes intentional or inadvertent data leaks,” said Eva Chen, CEO and co-founder of Trend Micro. "Solving this growing problem will require broader and deeper insight into the multiple endpoint data leak vulnerabilities and the use of intelligent solutions that can identify sensitive data and prevent its misuse through endpoint devices and channels. The acquisition of Provilla strengthens our ability to execute on our content-security strategy, with technology and products complementing our own.”

“As demand for DLP solutions has ramped quickly, we have been able to meet the need with a steady stream of innovative products and advancements primarily because of a stellar group of Provilla technologists," said Shu Huang, chief technical officer, Provilla. “Our people are excited by the opportunity to join forces with the Trend Micro team, which is known for a commitment to technical innovation and to customers globally that starts at the top and permeates the ranks. We see this as an opportunity to build a complete data leak prevention product suite that fits with Trend Micro’s philosophy of central security management."

Related topics:  Authentication and identity management   Data management and data security   Fingerprint biometrics 

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