Verizon snaps up Cybertrust

US telco Verizon Business has announced the acquisition of managed security services provider (MSSP) Cybertrust.

The deal is the latest to see the coming together of telcos and security companies as businesses look to streamline the number of vendors they deal with.

John Killian, president of Verizon Business, said: "Security is a top concern for corporate CIOs worldwide. As the world continues to move to IP, this combination creates an essential engine for protecting our customers' operations end-to-end."

Jay Heiser, research VP at Gartner, was less enthusiastic. "It does make sense that Verizon would want to pump up its MSSP business. Beyond that I would ask if buying a bunch of different service companies necessarily results in a unique offering," he said, referring to a perceived lack of cohesion among the stable of brands Cybertrust has brought under its roof in the past.

In late 2004 Cybertrust was born from the merger of BeTrusted, TruSecure and Ubizen. In turn, all three companies had previously swallowed other names such as Baltimore.

Rapid consolidation is par for the course in the security industry and Heiser added: "If you look at the history of Cybertrust, the fact that it was sold within less than three years comes as no surprise."

The value of the deal was not disclosed. Verizon was unable to provide details about plans for the merged companies.

Last year BT bought managed security services company Counterpane in what many will regard as a similar move.