BlackBerry to acquire Secusmart

Company is open to more such acquisitions

BlackBerry today announced it will acquire German security solutions firm Secusmart GmbH, a move that will help the Canadian smartphone maker strengthen its solutions portfolio for combating electronic eavesdropping and data theft.

Secusmart provides high-security voice and data encryption and anti-eavesdropping solutions for government organisations, enterprises and telecommunications service providers in Germany as well as globally.

"With Secusmart's talents and technology, BlackBerry is well-positioned to address the growing interest in high-end secure communications solutions, driven by the need to combat electronic eavesdropping and data theft," BlackBerry India Managing Director Sunil Lalvani told PTI.

BlackBerry in a statement today said it has entered into an agreement to acquire Secusmart GmbH, which is subject to the satisfaction of certain customary conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals.

This acquisition provides the talents and technology to enable BlackBerry to address the growing interest in high-end secure communications solutions, driven by the need to combat electronic eavesdropping and data theft, he added.

Lalvani said the company is open to acquisitions in the enterprise security solutions space.

"We continue to focus on growth through organic development, strategic partnering and acquisitions," he added.

BlackBerry and Secusmart have previously partnered to offer Secusmart's technology to customers that have the most demanding security needs.

Last year SecuSUITE for BlackBerry 10 solution was selected by Germany's Federal Office for Information Security for classified communications for the country's highest public officials.

Through this collaboration, the two firms have provided Secusmart-equipped BlackBerry smartphones to a significant number of German government agencies and almost all government ministries and leaders, including Chancellor Angela Merkel, BlackBerry said.