BlackBerry bolstered its security credentials with the acquisition of Secusmart, a German provider of “high-security voice and data encryption and anti-eavesdropping solutions for government organisations, enterprises and telecommunications service providers”.
Financial details were not disclosed.
The companies have already worked together, including a partnership to provide Germany’s Federal office for Information Security with a BlackBerry 10 solution “for classified communications for the country’s highest public officials” – including Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The security of Merkel’s communications came into the spotlight late last year, when it was reported that the US government had been monitoring her calls.
While BlackBerry has already trumpeted the security of its own data platform, the deal will enable it to improve its position with regard to voice calls.
BlackBerry has held a strong position in the enterprise world, in no small part due to its security capabilities, for some time, but is coming under increasing pressure from technologies such as Samsung’s fledgling Knox platform.
The acquisition of Secusmart is an indication that despite its well-publicised woes, it is still investing in areas that are strategically important, supporting its renewed focus on the enterprise market.
Industry analyst Jack Gold said: “If BlackBerry can raise the awareness and get the market, particularly in enterprise and regulated industries, to recognise the need for secure voice and the amount of potential loss, then BB could win big in the market. It will take some effort, but this could be a great channel for BB to grow share.”
Hans-Christoph Quelle, CEO of Secusmart, said: “The secrets of our existing and new customers continue to be reliably secure: the heart of the Secusmart technology is and remains the Crypto-Chip integrated into a standard Micro-SD Card. End-to-end encryption is the only method to protect voice and data communication against third party espionage. As in the past no Secusmart employees will have access to encryption algorithm or the secrets of our clients.”
John Chen, executive chairman and CEO of BlackBerry, said: “The acquisition of Secusmart underscores our focus on addressing growing security costs and threats ranging from individual privacy to national security.”
The transaction is subject to certain conditions, including regulatory approvals.
Press Releases:
BlackBerry Reinforces Mobile Security Leadership with Acquisition of Secusmart
Waterloo, ON – BlackBerry Limited (NASDAQ: BBRY; TSX: BB), a world leader in mobile communications, has entered into an agreement to acquire Secusmart GmbH, a leader in high-security voice and data encryption and anti-eavesdropping solutions for government organizations, enterprises and telecommunications service providers in Germany and internationally.
The transaction is subject to the satisfaction of certain customary conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals.
“We are always improving our security solutions to keep up with the growing complexity of enterprise mobility, with devices being used for more critical tasks and to store more critical information, and security attacks becoming more sophisticated,” said John Chen, Executive Chairman and CEO, BlackBerry. “The acquisition of Secusmart underscores our focus on addressing growing security costs and threats ranging from individual privacy to national security. This acquisition bolsters our security solutions with leading voice and data encryption and anti-eavesdropping technologies, and furthers BlackBerry’s security leadership in end-to-end mobile solutions.”
BlackBerry and Secusmart have previously partnered to offer Secusmart’s innovative technology to customers that have the most demanding security needs. In fact, last year, the 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 companies have provided Secusmart-equipped BlackBerry smartphones to a significant number of German government agencies and almost all German government ministries and leaders, including Chancellor Angela Merkel.
“This transaction is a fantastic opportunity to accelerate growth in the market for high-end secure communications solutions, driven by the need to combat electronic eavesdropping and data theft,” said Dr. Hans-Christoph Quelle, Managing Director of Secusmart. “Secusmart and BlackBerry’s solution already meets the highest security requirements of the German federal authorities and NATO for restricted communications. We see significant opportunities to introduce Secusmart’s solutions to more of BlackBerry’s government and enterprise customers around the world.”
BlackBerry’s acquisition of Secusmart is the latest demonstration of the company’s commitment to being the first name in enterprise mobile security. This commitment is why BlackBerry customers include all G7 governments, 16 of the G20 governments, 10 out of 10 of the largest global enterprises in each of the pharmaceutical, legal and automotive industries, and the five largest oil and gas companies. BlackBerry has more security certifications than any other vendor and is the only mobility solution to receive “Full Operational Capability” (FOC) approval to run on U.S. Department of Defense networks.
About BlackBerry
A global leader in mobile communications, BlackBerry® revolutionized the mobile industry when it was introduced in 1999. Today, BlackBerry aims to inspire the success of our millions of customers around the world by continuously pushing the boundaries of mobile experiences. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. The company trades under the ticker symbols "BB" on the Toronto Stock Exchange and "BBRY" on the NASDAQ. For more information, visitwww.blackberry.com.
About Secusmart
Secusmart (www.secusmart.com) is the leading expert in the development and implementation of comprehensive anti-eavesdropping solutions for German government agencies and organizations responsible for the provision of emergency services as well as governments and public authorities outside of Germany. With the SecuSUITE for BlackBerry 10 Chancellor Phone, Secusmart combines modern smartphone convenience with highly secure mobile communication. Together with Vodafone, the Düsseldorf anti-eavesdropping experts have integrated the highly secure voice encryption from SecuSUITE for BlackBerry 10 into the new Secure Call app, providing a highly secure smartphone for businesses. Landline phones are also protected within the scope of the Federal Security Network, a customer specific solution including SecuGATE LV, tap-proof desk telephones, and SecuBRIDGE, encrypted telephone conferences.
Secusmart stärkt sichere Kommunikation bei BlackBerry
Düsseldorf, 29.07.2014 - Secusmart und der Smartphone-Pionier
BlackBerry Ltd. vereinbaren die Übernahme von Secusmart durch BlackBerry Ltd.
Secusmart bleibt als GmbH in Deutschland erhalten. Durch das Zusammengehen
erhält Secusmart Zugang zum globalen Markt für sichere mobile Kommunikation
und wird zukünftig von dem weltweiten Vertriebs- und Support-Team der
BlackBerry „Security Unit“ profitieren. Der Abschluss der Transaktion wird,
vorbehaltlich der notwendigen regulatorischen Genehmigungen, erwartet.
Dr. Hans-Christoph Quelle, CEO Secusmart GmbH:
„Als Abhörschutzunternehmen haben wir durch diesen strategischen
Schritt ganz neue Möglichkeiten „Security made in
Germany“ weltweit Behörden, Mobilfunkbetreibern und Unternehmen
anzubieten. Die Geheimnisse unserer bestehenden und zukünftigen Kunden
bleiben auch weiterhin zuverlässig geschützt: Herzstück der
Secusmart-Technologie ist und bleibt ein Krypto-Chip, integriert in eine
handelsübliche Micro-SD Karte. Ende zu Ende Verschlüsselung ist das einzige
Mittel, um die Sprach- und Datenkommunikation vor Spionage Dritter zu schützen.
Wie auch in der Vergangenheit hat kein Secusmart-Mitarbeiter Zugriff auf die
Verschlüsselungsalgorithmen oder die Geheimnisse unserer Kunden.“
Die Secusmart
GmbH (www.secusmart.com) ist führender Experte in der Entwicklung und
Implementierung kompletter Abhörschutzlösungen in deutschen Behörden und
Organisationen mit Sicherheitsaufgaben (BOS) oder auch für Regierungen und
Behörden im Ausland. Mit dem Kanzler-Phone SecuSUITE for BlackBerry 10
kombiniert Secusmart erstmals modernen Smartphone-Komfort mit einem
hochsicheren Abhörschutz. Gemeinsam mit Vodafone integriert das Düsseldorfer
Abhörschutz-Unternehmen diese hochsichere Sprachverschlüsselung aus der
SecuSUITE for BlackBerry 10 in die App „Secure Call“ und bietet damit das
hochsichere Smartphone für die Wirtschaft. Im Festnetzbereich gehören zu den
kundenspezifischen Lösungen für ein abhörsicheres Bundessicherheitsnetz das SecuGATE
LV, abhörsichere Tischtelefone und die SecuBRIDGE für verschlüsselte
Telefonkonferenzen.
Kontakt:
Secusmart GmbH, Heinrichstraße 155, 40239
Düsseldorf, Pressesprecherin Swenja Kremer, Tel.: 0211-447399-251, mobil: 0151 54360563, Fax: 0211-447396-251, E-Mail: presse@secusmart.com, Web: www.secusmart.com
euromarcom public
relations GmbH, Mühlhohle 2, 65205 Wiesbaden, Tel.: 0611-973150, Fax:
0611-719290, E-Mail: team@euromarcom.de,
Web: www.euromarcom.de
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