Cisco To Buy SaaS Security Provider ScanSafe

Cisco has announced its intent to buy ScanSafe, which provides security to software as a service applications, for $183 million. This is Cisco’s third acquisition in the month of October, if you’re keeping score.

This move, which comes on the heels of rival Barracuda Systems’ own SaaS security acquisition, is meant to expand Cisco’s portfolio of security services, both on-premise and in the cloud.

“With the acquisition of ScanSafe, Cisco is executing on our vision to build a borderless network security architecture that combines network and cloud-based services for advanced security enforcement,” said Tom Gillis, VP and GM of Cisco’s Security Technology Business Unit, in a prepared statement.  “Cisco will provide customers the flexibility to choose the deployment model that best suits their organization and deliver anytime, anywhere protection against Web-based threats.”

The deal is expected to close in early 2010, barring anything unforeseen.

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