IBM acquires BigFix IT security firm for undisclosed sum

IBM has announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the California-based IT security software firm BigFix, with the details of the acquisition largely being kept private.

BigFix Inc. develops security and compliance software that companies implement in order to oversee and monitor computer networks, and to create policies for various machines to follow.

With infrastructure powered by BigFix, firms can implement numerous complex IT policies across hundreds of thousands of machines globally, including various administrative and control privileges, can execute tasks based on time/actions, can directly monitor and control machines across various operating platforms, among other complex tasks.

 The infrastructure also alerts IT administrators when a breach has occurred, allowing firms to better monitor and avoid prohibited usage.

IBM has chosen to keep the details of the acquisition private, but the acquisition price is likely around $450-million.

BigFix says the deal is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of this fiscal year, with BigFix becoming part of IBM’s Software Group.

The acquisition has not yet received regulatory approval.

BigFix has more than 700 clients in various market segments, including government and private clients, such as the top accounting firm Deloitte, among other clients like Princeton University.

BiigFix was founded in 1997, and currently has more than 200 employees.

It is unlikely most of the employees will be integrated with IBM simply due to efficiencies.

Over the past ten years, IBM has made over 100 acquisitions totaling more than $21-billion.

The IBM stock (NYSE:IBM) is trading nearly at par at $122.57 per share from today’s opening price.