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ISS boosts security lineup

Internet Security Systems attempts to boost both its professional services and product offerings by buying March Information Systems.

Internet Security Systems, attempting to boost both its professional services and product offerings, will acquire privately held March Information Systems, a British firm, in a deal valued at around $7.5 million.

March develops security assessment tools for Windows NT and Unix that allow companies to set up their own corporate security policies, then check to be certain the policies are followed.

The deal was for $4.75 million in cash and 120,000 shares of ISS stock. ISS stock dipped slightly in midday trading today. March, a company of 25 employees, had about $2 million in revenue for the year ended March 31.

"With this acquisition, we have given ourselves more support and sales capabilities in the U.K. This makes it easier for us to do global support," said Patrick Taylor, ISS vice president of strategic marketing.

Initially, March's Security Policy Manager software will be marketed as a standalone product in ISS' SAFEsuite intrusion detection software, Taylor said. But over the next six months March technology will be integrated with ISS, especially its new SAFEsuite Decisions offering, which analyzes security data and was announced yesterday.