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Microsoft Completes Whale Acquisition
In a move meant to strengthen its enterprise security message, Microsoft said this week it has completed the acquisition of a leading secure access software firm.
Completion of the deal adds Whale Communications' products to Microsoft's burgeoning security and access line. High on the list, according to Microsoft statements, is the Fort Lee, N.J. firm's Intelligent Application Gateway.
That package combines Whale's secure sockets layer (SSL)-based access and application protection technologies with Microsoft's Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server, the statement said.
Whale specializes in providing products for SSL virtual private networking security and access, especially for unmanaged devices such as remote laptops. The companies announced the then-pending purchase in mid-May.
While Microsoft has not said specifically where in its product lines the Whale products and technologies will end up, the statement clearly hinted they would be merged into Microsoft's recently announced Forefront brand.
All of Whale's products, including the Intelligent Application Gateway, remain available through Whale and its global partner channel as well as Microsoft sales professionals. As a promotion, the company is discounting Intelligent Gateway and any add-on modules by 25 percent between now and the end of the year.
About the Author
Stuart J. Johnston has covered technology, especially Microsoft, since February 1988 for InfoWorld, Computerworld, Information Week, and PC World, as well as for Enterprise Developer, XML & Web Services, and .NET magazines.