IBM scoops up Resilient Systems for a rumoured $100m

IBM adds another acquisition to its portfolio of security software and services

IBM has acquired incident-response computer services company Resilient Systems in a deal rumoured to be valued at $100m.

Resilient's incident response platform technology, together with its 100 or so employees, will be added to IBM's growing portfolio of security software and services. IBM has identified security as a key area for growth. "We are doubling down on the incident response market," said Marc van Zadelhoff. "Cyber security needs to function like an immune system, both in preventing breaches, but also in quickly eradicating those that do occur."

Resilient Systems Incident Response Platform is used by a number of US Fortune 500 companies, as well as a range of mid-sized organisations across a range of industries. IBM has not disclosed financial terms and the transaction will not close until later this year, subject to the usual regulatory approvals.

"A major benefit [of the acquisition] will be the planned combinations of Resilient Systems' Incident Response Platform with IBM QRadar Security Intelligence Incident Forensics, BigFix, IBM X-Force Exchange and IBM Incident Response Services that can enable an orchestrated process for addressing security incidents," claimed IBM in its statement. "Enhanced analytics capabilities will also deliver an integrated incident response solution spanning organisational and product boundaries."

Resilient Systems boasts cryptography expert and author Bruce Schneier as its chief technology officer. He joined Resilient - then known as Co3 Systems - shortly after leaving BT Managed Security Services in December 2013.

Schneier had been BT's "security futurologist" for a number of years following the acquisition of his own company, Counterpane Internet Security, which later formed the nucleus of BT Managed Security Services. Counterpane had been founded by Schneier in August 1999 and was acquired by BT Global Services in October 2006.

Schneier only left BT in December 2013 - just months after the Edward Snowden NSA leaks, which included allegations that BT and other carriers in the UK had helped GCHQ to tap fibre-optic internet backbones cables in order to spy on network traffic.

Schneier had become increasingly vocal in his criticisms of security services, such as GCHQ, and had accused the US National Security Agency of "commandeering" the internet for its own purposes. But BT denied that he had been pushed out as a result of this.