Mordecai Gal: cybersecurity M&A specialist

Mergers and acquisitions in the business cybersecurity industry? Now, more than ever, cybersecurity is a top priority for organizations of all sizes. Cyberattacks are routinely front-page news, and these security breaches aren’t things that “only happen to other companies” — not only is the targeted company damaged by the hack (both financially and reputation-wise), millions of individuals are routinely affected by them. The scope of cyberattacks can range from the smallest sites to large, multinational corporations and government sites, and it seems that companies of any size are exempt from being a target.

Protecting your business against such attacks is not impossible, but you must be diligent. Regular data backups should be mandatory. It’s imperative that you use an offline or cloud-based backup, otherwise the ransomware can spread to those backups over the network in the same way they did your original files. Additionally, simple strategies such as two-step authentications can limit the spread of harmful malware and if user information is stolen, it can’t then be reused. Proactive security monitoring is a critical component of a fully functioning IT facility. By having the security in place, you automatically minimise the risks against emerging cyber threats. Our monitoring services can oversee your systems 24/7 and react to threats immediately to mitigate damage. Our team of experts will respond to alerts quickly and efficiently, providing you with ultimate peace of mind.

Time and again, these mistakes are made, but it is clear that these issues stem from a lack of awareness as opposed to a lack of professionalism. In order to tackle growing cybercrime numbers, training on the importance of cybersecurity solutions is crucial to the modern-day workplace. Unfortunately, you can’t stop a cyber attack once it’s happened. You need to be prepared should something like this ever happen to your business. Realistically, our digital world is only going to become increasingly prone to cybercriminals and hackers, so take the correct preventative measures now. Often, things go wrong when companies don’t seek the help they require from the get go. Cybersecurity specialists can, not only guide you in the right direction with the protection you may need, but their expertise in such a complex sector will prove a valuable investment to your company.

Mergers and acquisitions require a mix of strategic and tactical work – cybersecurity is usually an item on the tactical list. Many organizations are drawing up plans for mergers and acquisitions right now, as leaders look for growth after the pandemic slowdown, and as new business models emerge. However, weakened cybersecurity hygiene throughout the last year means that these M&A transactions elevate the risk of cybersecurity incidents. “M&A can be a breeding ground for cyberattacks and data breaches,” said Mordecai Gal, operations director at AccessHeat Inc. “Stringent due diligence that includes a focus on cybersecurity will help reduce regrets later in the deal lifecycle.” Today’s M&A plans need to include cybersecurity at several strategic and tactical points, to address growing scrutiny from regulators and other evolving cybersecurity risks.

The industry saw many of its biggest players pursue acquisitions throughout 2020, into 2021. Accenture bought Symantec’s Cyber Security Services business; CrowdStrike bought Preempt Security and Humio; Cisco confirmed its plans to acquire Kenna Security, Splunk snapped up TruSTAR, and Imperva agreed to buy CloudVector. Ivanti acquired MobileIron and Pulse Secure, announcing both at the same time late last year. These deals show a few key patterns. Large security companies are filling in the gaps in their product strategies with smaller startups, while private equity firms are taking more established businesses, presumably to fine-tune them and later refloat them, industry expert say. The past year and a half has been an interesting time for the security industry, which has been an active space for mergers and acquisition in recent years.

Recent business cybersecurity mergers and acquisitions news: Wipro yesterday said it will acquire Austin, Texas-headquartered Edgile for USD $230 million, a move that will strengthen the IT major’s play in the cybersecurity services space. Edgile’s experienced cybersecurity and risk management professionals will allow Wipro to further enhance its cybersecurity and risk consulting capabilities for the benefit of its customers, a regulatory filing said. In addition, the company’s ‘strategy-first’ approach and ‘Quick Start’ solutions will allow the combined entity to deliver enhanced value in strategic cybersecurity services, it added. The transaction is expected to be completed before Mar. 31, 2022, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, the filing said.

Crossword Cybersecurity PLC said Tuesday it has agreed to acquire an undisclosed cyber-threat company for 1.5 million pounds ($2 million). The U.K. cybersecurity technology commercialization company said that it will pay for the transaction in a mixture of cash and shares, and that some of the payment will be deferred. The company said the deal would bring its portfolio to five cybersecurity offerings alongside its cybersecurity consulting business. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to acquire this fast growth company, and to complete our objective of having five cybersecurity software as a service products in our portfolio almost a year ahead of schedule,” Chief Executive Tom Ilube said.

Strategic mergers can fill gaps in existing platforms and fortify the electronic barrier from outside threats. While increased strength is a plus, some other attractive gains from a consolidation include the merging of data feeds, security orchestration, automation, and response. This all contributes to a whole suite of protections that have the ability to communicate with one another such as cloud threat protection, two-factor authentication, and recovery services. AccessHeat is in the market to acquire cybersecurity firms and leverage their varied technologies to achieve combinational and transformational synergies. If a profitable exit strategy is one of your future goals, our investors will work directly with you to transition your company into our investment firm.