Check Point to buy Nokia's security appliance business

Network security software company Check Point is to buy Nokia's security-appliance business, the companies have announced.

Check Point has provided software for Nokia's firewall appliances for around a decade, but the Israeli security firm said in a statement on Monday that the collaboration would help it "provide an extended security appliance portfolio developed, manufactured and supported by Check Point".

"As a pioneer in security appliances, the Nokia security-appliance business has been an important strategic partner for Check Point and has helped us achieve early leadership in the security appliance market," said Check Point chairman and chief executive Gil Shwed. "Adding Nokia's security appliance portfolio into Check Point's broad range of security solutions is the natural conclusion of our long collaboration, and will assure a smooth path forward for our mutual customers."

According to the statement, 85 percent of Fortune 500 companies have bought Nokia's security appliances, with around 220,000 having been sold overall. One hundred percent of Fortune 100 companies and 98 percent of Fortune 500 companies use Check Point's software.

Check Point and Nokia have not yet disclosed how much the new deal is worth, but have announced that — pending the usual regulatory approval — it should be closed in the first quarter of 2009.

Original article: Check Point buys Nokia security-appliance business from ZDNet UK