Forcepoint acquires Skyfence to boost cybersecurity solutions
Cybersecurity firm Forcepoint has acquired cloud security business Skyfence from tech security company Imperva. The Austin-based firm plans to use Skyfence to help its customers understand users’ behaviour and intent as they interact with data and internet protocols, including in the cloud. Skyfence’s cloud access security broker (CASB) will be integrated with Forcepoint’s web security and data-loss prevention technology package, allowing customers to deploy web security through hybrid, on-premises and cloud-based solutions. CASB platforms are used by only 5% of large enterprises, but that is predicted to rise to 85% by 2020. Skyfence will remain in its Ramat Gan base in Israel.

Global cyber security leader Forcepoint today announced the acquisition of the Skyfence business from Imperva. The acquisition plays a pivotal role in Forcepoint's strategy to deliver cyber security systems that help customers understand people's behaviours and intent as they interact with data and IP wherever it may reside, including fast-growing cloud applications.

"Forcepoint is committed to enabling our customers to empower individuals to leverage critical business data and intellectual property how, when and where they choose," said Matthew P Moynahan, chief executive officer of Forcepoint. "The integration of Skyfence across Forcepoint's broad product portfolio will further deliver on this promise, while helping to reduce enterprise security risk."

Integrating Skyfence's cloud access security broker (CASB) capabilities with Forcepoint's Web security and data loss prevention (DLP) technologies will provide customers with increased visibility, control and security as users interact with data wherever it resides, including within cloud applications. The integration also provides Forcepoint customers with greater flexibility in deploying Web security via on-premises, hybrid and cloud-based solutions.

"As cloud applications become more pervasive, customers are trying to strike a balance between the benefits these services offer and the risks that exist," said Kris Lamb, general manager of the Cloud Security business at Forcepoint. "Integrating Skyfence with Forcepoint's cloud security platform will offer the best of both worlds. Businesses will feel comfortable providing the productivity benefits cloud services offer, while not jeopardising the security of critical data and improving their overall governance and compliance posture."

As more organisations migrate to cloud services, the CASB market is expected to experience significant growth. According to Gartner: "By 2020, 85% of large enterprises will use a cloud access security broker platform for their cloud services, which is up from less than 5% today."1

Skyfence provides visibility and control over cloud applications approved for use by an organisation (eg, NetSuite, Office 365, Salesforce, Workday), as well as those employees might use without approval (eg, Dropbox, G Suite and Box). Skyfence helps companies to determine which cloud applications are in use by employees, analyses content in real-time to prevent malicious or unauthorised leakage and quickly identifies and blocks cyber-attacks. Integrating Forcepoint DLP with Skyfence will further broaden customers' abilities to protect critical business and personal data.

Skyfence capabilities are particularly important to companies seeking to protect intellectual property, as well as those facing compliance requirements, such as the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) and Sarbanes Oxley (SOX).

The acquisition of Skyfence by Forcepoint extends a relationship launched in March 2015. At the time, Forcepoint (then Raytheon-Websense) entered into a licensing arrangement that enabled the company to embed the Skyfence Cloud App Catalog into the company's Web security gateway products.

On the close of the transaction, Skyfence technology and employees will join the Forcepoint team. The Skyfence team will continue to be based in Ramat Gan, Israel.