Integration of e-Security technology will help customers cope with compliance

Novell yesterday focused on boosting its network and event monitoring capabilities with the $72m acquisition of compliance and security management firm e-Security.

Novell said that the move will help it deliver a single view of security and compliance activities across the entire enterprise.

The deal will combine Novell's identity and systems management skills with e-Security's real-time event monitoring, response and reporting capabilities.

"In the compliance area, customers want converged solutions that encompass system, identity, access and security event management," said Chris Christiansen, vice president of security products and services at analyst firm IDC.

"With the acquisition of e-Security, Novell is the only vendor with the potential to proactively address business needs for a real-time, comprehensive compliance solution that integrates people, systems and processes."

With government regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley, Basel II and HIPAA being implemented into corporate governance initiatives, regulatory environments have become increasingly complex.

With the addition of e-Security's Sentinel 5 Novell aims to provide a real-time, holistic view of security and compliance activities, while helping customers monitor, report, and respond automatically to network events across the enterprise.

"Compliance is changing the way companies think about security and identity management. The focus now is on automating and reporting results, as well as responding to events and non-compliant activities as they happen," said Jack Messman, chairman and chief executive at Novell.

Sentinel 5 can be purchased from Novell from May. Novell estimates a positive revenue impact from the acquisition of roughly $20m in the coming 12 months.