Linux vendor expands security offerings with e-Security acquisition

Novell is to pay $72m to acquire e-Security, a US firm which develops software for information management and compliance monitoring.

The technology is designed to sort through reports generated by software such as intrusion detection systems, and automatically respond or sound alarm bells.

E-Security's software creates an audit trail that can be used to comply with government regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley, Basel II and HIPAA.

"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 Novell chief executive Jack Messman.

Novell has a long history of selling identity and security software such as its Identity Manager, eDirectory and SecureLogin products.