American technology giant Hewlett-Packard has agreed to purchase security software manufacturer ArcSight for $1.5 billion, as announced by both companies.
"This agreement will enable HP to create an integrated security platform for enterprises that will provide clients with additional protection for their applications, proactive monitoring, and timely response to potential threats," said HP’s Executive Vice President for Software and Solutions Bill Veghte. The agreement is expected to be finalized before the end of this year. Industry analysts note that this acquisition is part of a trend where large companies are buying smaller firms responsible for security systems, which they say reflects the growing importance of integrated technology protection systems.
Last month, Intel acquired McAfee, one of the largest companies in computer security, for $7.7 billion. Just a month ago, HP’s CEO Mark Hurd resigned after an investigation into alleged sexual harassment revealed irregularities in his expense reporting. HP last week won a bidding war against Dell for the acquisition of data storage company 3Par for $2.35 billion. (H)
