VeriSign buys iDefense

VeriSign Inc. has acquired Reston, Va.-based security intelligence firm iDefense for about $40 million in cash, said officials with Mountain View, Calif.-based VeriSign.

iDefense provides intelligence on network-based security threats and vulnerabilities to financial services firms, government agencies, retailers and other enterprises. VeriSign is a provider of intelligent infrastructure services for the Internet and telecommunications networks.

"Network perimeters are expanding to include customers, partners and remote employees, so enterprises must leverage the most advanced security intelligence to protect customer data and corporate assets," said Judy Lin, executive vice president and general manager, VeriSign Security Services.

iDefense has a multilingual network of more than 200 research contributors in more than 30 countries. They offer insight into the cyber underground and previously unknown software vulnerabilities.

The iDefense research product portfolio includes iAlert Daily Delivery and Flash Reports, Weekly Threat Reports and Focused Intelligence Reports that customers use to modify their security infrastructure and respond to threats on a real-time basis.