Sources say CA Technologies is exiting certain security software businesses, apparently selling its anti-virus and anti-malware product portfolio to Updata Partners, an investment bank and growth equity firm focused on the IT market. Here’s the apparent scoop…

The VAR Guy hears CA has decided to focus intensely on its IT management and storage offerings — overhauling all of its licensing to better address managed services providers, cloud partners and cloud customers. As part of that process, CA is selling off its security software business to Updata partners, according to sources familiar with CA’s strategy. A CA spokesman had no comment about the alleged security software sale.

No doubt, CA faced an uphill challenge in the security market — squeezed between entrenched rivals like Symantec, McAfee and Trend Micro, and emerging rivals like Kaspersky Lab and Sophos — which acquired security appliance specialist Astaro last week.

Meanwhile, The VAR Guy is watching to see if Updata Partners connects the dots between the acquired security software assets and other portfolio companies such as M86 Security.

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