Marshal8e6 continues technology hunt with Avinti acquisition

Marshal8e6 has added another component to its range of web and email security products with the acquisition of Avinti, a provider of advanced behaviour-based malware detection technology.

The deal will allow Marshal8e6 to take on emerging threats known as blended threats that either use active malware content or, by embedding URLs in an email, can link the user to websites where malware is downloaded in the background. These attacks are missed by traditional anti-virus products looking for malware as email attachments, and by web filters that focus on content, not viruses and spyware.

The acquisition follows November 2008’s merger of Marshal and 8e6 Technologies. “As part of our merger with 8e6, one of our commitments was we would add new technologies,” Nick Hawkins, Marshal8e6 VP sales EMEA told Channel Pro. “We had a war chest as a result of the merger and we said we would acquire technologies as required.

“Here, we’ve acquired a technology that customers want, and will provide additional revenue to the channel.” Hawkins says the addition will provide around a five percent incremental increase to resellers’ maintenance charges.

“There’s improved stickiness also from the customers – the more products or features you provide to an end customer, the less likely it is they’ll leave,” he adds.

“From a channel perspective, we’re forward thinking: we’re driving new technologies for them to take to their customers, who are already asking for this type of technology.”

Avinti currently operates a direct model, with 60 customers globally across financial services, education and healthcare. The financial details of the acquisition were not revealed, but under terms of the agreement, Avinti’s team will be immediately merged into Marshal8e6. In addition, Avinti’s behaviour observation technology will be “quickly integrated” into Marshal8e6’s portfolio of security solutions.

Hawkins says the firm will look to provide a cloud service in the future, but for now partners will wrap the services up to sell to customers. He also didn’t rule out further acquisitions in the future: “Where we see opportunities, where we see requirements from customers, we will [acquire],” he says.