Harris acquires cybersecurity company

Harris Corp. has bolstered its reach into the cybersecurity market with the acquisition of Crucial Security Inc.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the Chantilly, Va.-based company has 110 employees who work with law enforcement and other government agencies.

The company offers services such as helping customers attack their own systems to determine network vulnerabilities. Crucial Security also provides malicious code reverse engineering to learn the functionality of hostile programs. It offers predictive analysis capabilities and computer forensic services.

The acquisition is the second move the company has made recently to increase its cybersecurity expertise. Earlier this year, the company hired Dale Meyerrose, retired Air Force major general. He is the vice president of Harris Cyberspace Solutions.

“We have greatly expanded our leadership and expertise in cyber and information assurance,” said Howard Lance, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Harris, in a statement.

The investment bank Houlihan Lokey served as an adviser to Crucial Security.

Harris, of Melbourne, Fla., is ranked No. 13 on Washington Technology’s 2008 Top 100 list of government prime contractors.