(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — According to reports appearing Thursday, security software firm McAfee (www.mcafee.com) agreed to be acquired by chip-making giant Intel (www.intel.com) for $7.7 billion.
McAfee is well known for its widely used anti-virus, Internet Security and Firewall products, but also produces several enterprise security software products. The company employs more than 6,000 people worldwide.
Both boards unanimously approved the deal, which is expected to close after approval from shareholders, and a few other conditions. According to Intel, McAfee will become a wholly-owned subsidiary, under Renee James, Intel’s senior vice president and general manager of its software and services group.
While there isn’t anything in the announcement to explicitly impact the hosting business, statements from both companies show their excitement about the evolving nature of security solutions, and the role of hardware in security services.
In the press release announcing the deal, Intel says it has internally elevated security as a priority to be on par with energy efficient performance and Internet connectivity.
“Hardware-enhanced security will lead to breakthroughs in effectively countering the increasingly sophisticated threats of today and tomorrow,” said James, quoted in the press release. “This acquisition is consistent with our software and services strategy to deliver an outstanding computing experience in fast-growing business areas, especially around the move to wireless mobility.”
Included with the announcement, Intel posted a YouTube clip that includes commentary from Renee James and McAfee CEO Dave DeWalt.
In a blog post made Thursday, DeWalt calls the deal “incredibly exciting,” and refers, like Intel, to the proliferation of mobile devices and their use as a means of interacting with the Internet as a force for change in the world of cyber security.
He suggests that a major change in the nature of security is coming, and that the partnership is a big step toward that future goal.
“The current cyber security model isn’t extensible across the proliferating spectrum of devices – providing protection to a heterogeneous world of connected devices requires a fundamentally new approach to security,” writes DeWalt. “The industry needed a paradigm shift, incremental improvements can’t bridge the opportunity gap.”
About Liam Eagle
Liam Eagle has worked as a contributor to the Web Host Industry Review since its inception in 2000, and as editor since 2003. He has been editor of the WHIR's print magazine since its launch. His daily involvement in the gathering and reporting of Web hosting news and his regular interaction with Web hosting leaders gives him an uncommonly broad appreciation of the issues and tends facing the business. Through his WHIR blog, Liam spots Web hosting trends and offers opinions on the industry-wide impacts of major developments and the motivation behind big announcements. Follow him on Twitter @liameagle
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