Webroot Acquires Web Site Classification Company BrightCloud

As cost-conscious businesses fend off increasing Web-based threats to security, Webroot acquires BrightCloud, a Web content classification and security services provider.

Internet security provider Webroot announced it has acquired BrightCloud, a Web content classification and security services provider. Webroot will use the purchase to integrate BrightCloud's technology with its own proprietary malware detection and security-as-a-service (SAAS) technologies designed to protect consumers and small to medium-size businesses worldwide.

Founded in 2005, BrightCloud provides Web reputation and content classification capabilities that aim to maximize productivity and mitigate Web-based security risks. The company maintains information on more than 200 million URLs and IP addresses, having accurate and comprehensive data for classifying content and detecting malicious sites. The company's technology is also used by partners to create an added layer of security and policy management for their customers.

"Webroot is growing our business through investments in research and development, acquisitions, and by building a world-class customer support organization," said Dick Williams, CEO of Webroot. "BrightCloud brings to Webroot a set of Web filtering capabilities that are world-class, and upon which we will build significant new capabilities. BrightCloud's technology and team will be great assets to Webroot as we establish ourselves as the best company in the world at delivering security as a service."

Williams said the acquisition will enable Webroot to build innovative services utilizing Website classification and reputation across its business. The company's portfolio of cloud-based Web security offerings includes Web Security Service, which protects businesses against malware threats. Williams said the company will deliver Web security via the cloud to consumers as part of Internet Security Complete, a new product launching later this month. In addition, Webroot's geographic growth plans are complemented by BrightCloud's support for more than 30 languages, he noted.

Based in San Diego, the BrightCloud team will join Webroot's Cloud Engineering team with an expanded focus on hosted security services, a joint release noted. "We are very excited to become a part of Webroot," said Quinn Curtis, president and CEO of BrightCloud. "This merger will enable us to provide even greater protection, service and value to our customers and partners, and the strength of the Webroot brand and its technology portfolio will help us reach new markets."

In December 2009, Webroot first launched cloud-based security services, an e-mail archiving service and an enhanced version of its Web security service, aimed at SMBs. A recent survey of SMBs from 28 countries by security giant Symantec found that companies are focusing more on information protection and backup and recovery; driving these changes is a fear of losing data due to Web threats.