Checkpoint finally gets their IPS

In a case of try, try again until you get it right, Checkpoint announced today that they have acquired NFR Security.  NFR is a long time player in the IDS/IPS market.  Frankly, they have been regulated to a 2nd or even 3rd tier status for some time.  Many people had wondered what was going to happen to keep the doors open at NFR and this answers that question.  From Checkpoints point of view, they obviously wanted to bring some IDS/IPS technology in house and this gives them something.  The question is what.  NFR has made some noise with their Sentavist IPS which combines some vulnerability detection and correlation with the base IPS.

With just 22 employees and little presence in the market, I don't think this is anyway near the impact type of acquisition the Sourcefire deal would have been.  But on the other hand they paid just 20m total here.  That seems really cheap!  Tells me that NFR did not have many alternatives or leverage, the revenue was not there and security companies are getting cheaper to buy.  I don't believe that last one, I think security companies that don't have a lot of revenue or strategic value are cheap, but quality always costs money.  Anyway, I don't think the government will hold deal this up.  The question will be as to how well Checkpoint integrates this technology into their products.  Only time will tell, but consolidation in the security market continues.