Cisco boosts access control with Perfigo acquisition

Perfigo's systems are designed to enable organisations to intelligently provide trusted access to "clean" endpoints, thereby increasing the availability and integrity of customer networks and critical business applications.

According to the network giant, Perfigo's CleanMachines offering will be used to extend its own Network Admission Control (NAC) endpoint policy compliance initiative.

The CleanMachines system is a "shrink-wrapped" network admission control tool that recognises users, their devices and roles; evaluates the security posture of the endpoint and scans for vulnerabilities; and enforces policy in the network.

Under the terms of the agreement, Cisco will pay approximately $74 million in cash for Perfigo. The acquisition is subject to various standard closing conditions and is expected to close in the second quarter of Cisco's fiscal year 2005, which ends on January 29, 2005.

"Security is at the top of the list when customers look for network solutions and Perfigo will provide our small and medium business customers secure, resilient, and intelligent networks," said Richard Palmer, vice president in Cisco's Security Technology Group.

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