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IBM Buys Internet Security Systems

IBM has bought the Internet Security Systems for $1.3 billion in an attempt to strengthen IBM`s ability to deliver security services to corporations. ISS creates network protection services and products, among which are intrusion detection and monitoring tools. IBM said it will ISS`s expertise and software to provide more robust security-related services to its corporate customers.

Val Rahmani, general manager of infrastructure management services at IBM Global Services, said: "We see security services as an area of huge growth potential...and that`s why we`re putting (ISS) in the services side of our operation," She also added that ISS, which will remain a separate business unit within IBM`s global services organization, will work closely with Big Blue`s software and server divisions.

Some managed security services are already offered by IBM, such as security software in its Tivoli product line. With the ISS acquisition, IBM is hoping to capture a larger share of the estimated $22 billion security services market. The two companies, which have been partners since 1999, have realized with time that they were headed in the same direction of offering security as a service and service-oriented architecture systems.