Check Point buys Nokia security appliance business

The acquisition will enable Check Point to provide an extended security appliance portfolio developed, manufactured and supported internally, the firm said in a statement. It follows a long-standing partnership between the two companies, according to Gil Shwed, Chairman and CEO at Check Point.

“The Nokia security appliance business has been an important strategic partner for Check Point and has helped us achieve early leadership in the security appliance market,” said Shwed.

“Adding Nokia’s security appliance portfolio into Check Point’s broad range of security solutions is the natural conclusion of our long collaboration, and will assure a smooth path forward for our mutual customers.”

Check Point and Nokia claim to have ‘long provided’ customers with a range of security solutions.

Nokia’s security appliance business provides purpose-built security platforms optimised for Check Point firewall, virtual private network (VPN) and unified threat management (UTM) software, the companies said.

About 85 percent of Fortune 500 companies have bought Nokia’s security platforms, and more than 220,000 Nokia appliances have been installed with over 23,000 customers worldwide, it claimed.

The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2009 subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Further details of the transaction were not disclosed.

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