ForeScout acquires SecurityMatters

ForeScout Technologies has announced it has acquired SecurityMatters, a developer of operational technology (OT) network protection technology, for approximately US$113 million in cash, subject to customary adjustments. The acquisition will bolster ForeScout’s position in agentless device visibility and control across the extended enterprise with expanded capabilities and advanced features to secure OT and industrial environments.

“ForeScout’s acquisition of SecurityMatters is a natural fit as it takes us deeper into a market where we have an established foothold and are seeing explosive customer demand,” said Michael DeCesare, CEO and President, ForeScout Technologies.

The convergence of IT and OT is driving a rapid rise of interconnectivity and introducing new risks for enterprises as OT networks may no longer be physically segregated from the IT network. Recent cyber attacks, such as WannaCry, NotPetya and Triton, demonstrated how vulnerable OT networks can result in significant business disruption and financial loss. According to Forrester research, 79% of organisations with a SCADA/ICS network have suffered a breach in the past 24 months.

“Virtually every company with OT needs to rethink its cybersecurity strategy,” said Damiano Bolzoni, founder and CEO, SecurityMatters. “After partnering with ForeScout for the last year, it became clear that we shared the same vision. Now as a single company, we will be able to accelerate our momentum and create the industry’s first capability to truly segment IT and OT environments.”

Founded in 2009, SecurityMatters provides organisations with device visibility, continuous network monitoring, and threat and anomaly detection specific to operational technology and industrial environments using passive collection techniques that don’t impact operations. Its solution protects networks from the widest range of threats utilising patented technology and with a library of over 1600 ICS-specific threat indicators.

For more information, visit www.forescout.com/forescout-acquires-securitymatters.

Image: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Jürgen Fälchle