Motorola to acquire AirDefense

Motorola has signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately held AirDefense, a leading wireless LAN (WLAN) security provider. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

AirDefense is a privately-held developer of Wireless Intrusion Prevention Solutions (WIPS) and premium software applications, which enable corporations to secure their networks against wireless security threats and comply with regulatory and industry standards. AirDefense has been an innovator and a leader in the industry since its inception in 2001, including the introduction of the first 24×7 Monitoring and Wireless Intrusion Detection System, the first use of access points as sensors and a host of add-on modules that address customer specific security problems and RF troubleshooting needs. In addition, AirDefense enables secure multi-vendor environments, which allows organizations to benefit from AirDefense’s solutions regardless of their WLAN infrastructure.

Upon completion of the transaction, AirDefense will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Motorola and will be integrated into Motorola’s Enterprise Mobility business. Motorola intends to maintain AirDefense’s Alpharetta, Georgia headquarters, which will be an integral component of Motorola’s WLAN operations. The acquisition, which is subject to regulatory and other customary conditions, is expected to close in the next few months.

Kathy Paladino, president of Motorola’s Enterprise Mobility business said:

As wireless security remains a leading concern for enterprises, we are excited to announce this transaction with AirDefense, which enables Motorola to deliver a common platform solution for greater indoor and outdoor protection to wireless LAN networks in support of our all-wireless enterprise vision. AirDefense is a renowned pioneer in wireless security with strong intellectual capital. Based on our trusted and valuable partnership through the years, we are confident that the combination of Motorola’s WLAN infrastructure and AirDefense’s best-of-breed features will further enhance our network security offerings and better secure our customers’ networks.