Multiple sources are confirming that technology firm BlackBerry has agreed to purchase file-security software startup WatchDox to beef up its software offerings. The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
WatchDox software is designed to assist both governments and private enterprises in keeping track of who has access to internal documents, as well as sharing them more easily and preventing leaks of sensitive information.
According to reports from TechCrunch, the smartphone maker and growing software provider has agreed to pay between $100 million and $150 million for the WatchDox, and plans to take advantage the firm’s 100-person team in Israel to expand its R&D operations.
BlackBerry’s statement on Tuesday noted it plans to integrate WatchDox’s technology as a value-added service with its BlackBerry’s Enterprise Mobility Management portfolio. The new service will be available with the release of BES12, which can be used on multiple platforms.
Statement from BlackBerry CEO John Chen
“BlackBerry is constantly expanding the potential of data security so that it enables more collaboration and sharing rather than creating limitations,” John Chen, BlackBerry Executive Chairman and CEO, noted in the firm’s statement.
He continued to say: “This acquisition represents another key step forward as we transition BlackBerry into the premier platform for secure mobile communications software and applications, supporting all devices and operating systems. Together with last year’s Secusmart acquisition, Samsung partnership, our own internal development efforts, and now the acquisition of WatchDox, we now have capabilities to secure communications end-to-end from voice, text, messaging, data and now enterprise file-sync-and share.”
More on WatchDox
WatchDox was founded as Confidela back in 2008. The firm initially released WatchDox in 2009, then decided to rebrand the entire business under the product name. The firm is headquartered in Palo Alto, and has raised close to $36 million to date, with well-known investors such as the Blackstone Group, Gemini Israel Ventures, Millennium Technology Value Partners and Shasta Ventures.
Schlomo Kramer, the chairman of WatchDox, also cofounded security firm Trusteer, which was acquired by IBM a couple of years ago.
