Microsoft agreed to acquire Whale Communications, a developer of secure access products based in New Jersey, for an undisclosed sum.
Whale is a pioneer in Windows-based SSL VPN and Web application firewalls that help protect and provide more secure access to high-value business applications. Its products provide remote access, deep content inspection and granular access control.
Microsoft said Whale's Intelligent Application Gateway and Application Optimizers will add complementary SSL VPN and comprehensive application-layer filtering capabilities to its existing secure access solutions built around Microsoft Windows Server and Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server (ISA Server), which provide site-to-site and remote access VPN and application publishing.
"Our customers are faced with balancing the need to protect their data and network infrastructure with the connectivity needs of an increasingly mobile work force," said Ted Kummert, corporate vice president of the Security, Access and Solutions Division at Microsoft. "We are committed to providing a comprehensive secure access platform that helps customers easily extend and manage the reach of their information systems. The acquisition of Whale's complementary technologies is a key part of meeting that commitment.
The company is headquartered in Fort Lee, N.J., and has international offices in Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Israel, and representation in France.
http://www.microsoft.comhttp://www.whalecommunications.com
- Whale introduced its application-layer firewall in 2000, which was followed by the introduction of a powerful application-aware reverse web proxy for online commerce and e-business a year later.
