McAfee to acquire data loss prevention expert Reconnex

McAfee, Inc. announced a definitive agreement to acquire privately owned Reconnex for $46 million in cash. Reconnex is a leading data loss prevention company with unique technology that learns and adapts to automate the ongoing protection of data.

Reconnex’s technology helps an organization protect all the information assets on its network without requiring upfront knowledge of what needs to be protected, regardless of how that information is stored, secured or communicated. Through the pending acquisition of Reconnex, McAfee expects to further enhance its leadership position in proactive security and risk management solutions.

Reconnex’s products align with McAfee’s vision to provide a complete data protection and compliance solution to its customers, meeting the significant demand for adaptive data protection. With more than 60 million nodes managed by McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator (ePO), McAfee can bring automated, centrally managed and adaptive protection to its existing customer base and further help users enhance the value of their current investments.

The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2008. McAfee anticipates that following the closing, Reconnex’s technologies will be incorporated under McAfee’s Data Protection product business unit, headed by Gerhard Watzinger.