IBM is to acquire security firm Trusteer, whose software aims to help protect organisations against financial fraud and advanced security threats.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
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IBM said that Trusteer's software can be used to ensure that banking customers can securely transfer money on a mobile device and detect malware on a smartphone, enabling banks to take steps to prevent fraudulent behaviour before the transaction occurs. The security firm has software that prevents account takeover, detects compromised devices, and makes use of fingerprinting technology and a global fraudster database.
It claims that 16 of the UK and US's top banks use Trusteer solutions.
IBM believes that Trusteer, which currently has offices in Boston and Tel Aviv, will help its cloud services area, which it expects to generate $7bn a year by the end of 2015. It said that Trusteer's software as a service (SaaS) offerings will complement its other SaaS solutions, and will enable organisations to get more up-to-date information on malicious activities, enabling them to better protect their data.
IBM already has a portfolio of counter-fraud software and services which includes QRadar, i2, SPSS, InfoSphere and Enterprise Content Management.
"Trusteer's expertise and superior technology in enterprise endpoint defence and advanced malware prevention will help our clients across all industries address the constantly evolving threats they are facing," said Brendan Hannigan, General Manager, security systems division, IBM.
"Together with IBM's capabilities in advanced threat detection, analysis and remediation, we will now be able to offer our clients several additional layers of defence against sophisticated attackers," he stated.
As part of the deal, IBM will form a cyber security software lab in Israel in which more than 200 Trusteer and IBM researchers and developers will focus on mobile and application security, advanced threats, malware, counter-fraud, and financial crimes.
IBM already has ties in Isreal, with research and development facilities based in the country, while it recently acquired Israeli virtualisation management technology provider CSL International.
