Oracle adds security firm to shopping spree

Oracle has acquired a privately held computer security company, continuing an acquisition spree it started in recent months.

The database maker announced its acquisition of Oblix on Monday. Oblix makes identity management programs which guard access to computer programs and data on corporate networks and websites.

Oracle has been on an acquisition spree recently, buying software maker Retek for $650m in a deal inked just last week. In December, it bought rival PeopleSoft for $10bn, after a heated takeover battle.

The Oblix deal is tiny, relative to the others. Although Oracle didn't disclose financial details, Oblix employs just 100 people.

One of them is Oblix CEO Gordon Eubanks, a software industry veteran and former CEO of Symantec. Eubanks is not joining Oracle and will instead "be pursuing personal and new interests", an Oracle representative said.

Oracle said the company's technology complements access management software already built in to its Oracle Application Server program and will further bolster the security features of the product. Competitors on this front include BEA Systems, IBM and Sun.

Oblix counts several blue-chip companies among its clients, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cisco Systems, General Motors and Ingersoll-Rand.

Alorie Gilbert writes for News.com