Acquisition will boost Accenture Security’s
ability to provide tailored threat intelligence services and
address enterprise security needs
Accenture (NYSE:ACN) has entered into an agreement to acquire
the iDefense Security Intelligence Services business from VeriSign,
Inc. iDefense, one of the world’s first and most prolific cyber
threat intelligence businesses, has proven capabilities in cyber
intelligence related to vulnerabilities, malicious code and global
threats to organizations. iDefense’s next generation intelligence
platform specializes in delivering faster access to relevant,
timely and actionable security intelligence, enabling organizations
to make smarter security decisions and defend against new and
evolving threats. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Completion of the acquisition is subject to the satisfaction of
customary closing conditions.
Complementing recent security investments, the acquisition of
iDefense augments Accenture Security’s existing Cyber Defense
Services with targeted threat intelligence that Accenture will
embed into services it manages for clients’ security operations.
iDefense has amassed vast amounts of proprietary threat
intelligence data over the past 18 years – data that powers its
application program interfaces (APIs) and its distinctive analysis
platform, IntelGraph. In addition to directly providing threat
intelligence to Fortune 500 customers, Accenture will fuel its
cybersecurity platform with these capabilities to enhance its
ability to inform clients where threats are forming and coming
from, and what actions to take – much earlier than other providers
who leverage public data feeds.
iDefense’s capabilities will also become an integral component
of Accenture’s adversary simulation, threat hunting and incident
response services. Accenture’s Global Delivery Network of security
professionals will further enhance iDefense’s offerings through new
telemetry sources and innovative threat intelligence services
designed to help organizations achieve maximum value from security
technologies.
“There simply isn’t enough time, budget or human resources to
defend against every imaginable attack scenario or adversary
without intelligent systems and automation. That’s why having the
best available threat intelligence is critical to helping us
protect our clients’ entire value chains, allowing them to focus on
innovation and growth,” said Kelly Bissell, managing director of
Accenture Security. “We are confident that the collective
capabilities of Accenture Security and iDefense can help
organizations better understand where threats are coming from and
adjust protections before damage is done.”
Recent research by Accenture reveals that companies often lack
strategic threat intelligence and proper tools to identify as well
as monitor threats. Fewer than two in five organizations report
they are competent at monitoring and evaluating business relevant
threats.
“iDefense has always been recognized for our differentiated and
innovative approach to security intelligence and vulnerability
management. Our contextual cyber intelligence is delivered to
clients in a highly consumable way, so they can confidently use it
to enhance a security control, drive a course of action or mitigate
risk effectively in their business,” said Josh Ray, Vice President,
iDefense Security Intelligence Services. “We are very excited by
this opportunity to bring our unparalleled threat intelligence
services to Accenture Security’s extensive portfolio of end-to-end
security and technology services.
Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Northern Virginia, iDefense
serves top-tier organizations across a range of industries –
including banking, communications, media, technology and
products.
The acquisition of iDefense builds on Accenture Security’s
commitment to investing in and innovating advanced threat
intelligence and cybersecurity solutions. Recent acquisitions
include US-based Defense Point Security (supports the U.S. federal
government and provides advanced cyber defense and response
services), US-based FusionX, (simulates attacks of advanced
adversaries), Israeli-based Maglan (provides vulnerability
countermeasures, cyber forensics and malware defenses, and
Accenture recently entered into an agreement to acquire US-based
Endgame Federal Services Business (specializes in proactive
cybersecurity defensive operations).
About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company,
providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy,
consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched
experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries
and all business functions – underpinned by the world’s largest
delivery network – Accenture works at the intersection of business
and technology to help clients improve their performance and create
sustainable value for their stakeholders. With more than 394,000
people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives
innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us
at www.accenture.com.
Accenture Security helps organizations build
resilience from the inside out, so they can confidently
focus on innovation and growth. Leveraging its global network of
cybersecurity labs, deep industry understanding across client value
chains and services that span the security lifecycle, Accenture
protects organization’s valuable assets, end-to-end. With services
that include strategy and risk management, cyber defense,
digital identity, application security and managed security,
Accenture enables businesses around the world to defend against
known sophisticated threats, and the unknown. Follow us
@AccentureSecure on Twitter or visit the Accenture Security
blog.
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for the historical information and discussions contained
herein, statements in this news release may constitute
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,”
“will,” “should,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,”
“plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “positioned,”
“outlook” and similar expressions are used to identify these
forward-looking statements. These statements involve a number of
risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These
include, without limitation, risks that: Accenture and VeriSign
will not be able to close the transaction in the time period
anticipated, or at all, which is dependent on the parties’ ability
to satisfy certain closing conditions; the transaction might not
achieve the anticipated benefits for Accenture; Accenture’s results
of operations could be adversely affected by volatile, negative or
uncertain economic conditions and the effects of these conditions
on the company’s clients’ businesses and levels of business
activity; Accenture’s business depends on generating and
maintaining ongoing, profitable client demand for the company’s
services and solutions including through the adaptation and
expansion of its services and solutions in response to ongoing
changes in technology and offerings, and a significant reduction in
such demand or an inability to respond to the changing
technological environment could materially affect the company’s
results of operations; if Accenture is unable to keep its supply of
skills and resources in balance with client demand around the world
and attract and retain professionals with strong leadership skills,
the company’s business, the utilization rate of the company’s
professionals and the company’s results of operations may be
materially adversely affected; the markets in which Accenture
competes are highly competitive, and Accenture might not be able to
compete effectively; Accenture could have liability or Accenture’s
reputation could be damaged if the company fails to protect client
and/or company data from security breaches or cyberattacks;
Accenture’s profitability could materially suffer if the company is
unable to obtain favourable pricing for its services and solutions,
if the company is unable to remain competitive, if its
cost-management strategies are unsuccessful or if it experiences
delivery inefficiencies; changes in Accenture’s level of taxes, as
well as audits, investigations and tax proceedings, or changes in
tax laws or in their interpretation or enforcement, could have a
material adverse effect on the company’s effective tax rate,
results of operations, cash flows and financial condition;
Accenture’s results of operations could be materially adversely
affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;
Accenture’s business could be materially adversely affected if the
company incurs legal liability; Accenture’s work with government
clients exposes the company to additional risks inherent in the
government contracting environment; Accenture might not be
successful at identifying, acquiring, investing in or integrating
businesses, entering into joint ventures or divesting businesses;
Accenture’s Global Delivery Network is increasingly concentrated in
India and the Philippines, which may expose it to operational
risks; as a result of Accenture’s geographically diverse operations
and its growth strategy to continue geographic expansion, the
company is more susceptible to certain risks; adverse changes to
Accenture’s relationships with key alliance partners or in the
business of its key alliance partners could adversely affect the
company’s results of operations; Accenture’s services or solutions
could infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others or
the company might lose its ability to utilize the intellectual
property of others; if Accenture is unable to protect its
intellectual property rights from unauthorized use or infringement
by third parties, its business could be adversely affected;
Accenture’s ability to attract and retain business and employees
may depend on its reputation in the marketplace; if Accenture is
unable to manage the organizational challenges associated with its
size, the company might be unable to achieve its business
objectives; any changes to the estimates and assumptions that
Accenture makes in connection with the preparation of its
consolidated financial statements could adversely affect its
financial results; many of Accenture’s contracts include payments
that link some of its fees to the attainment of performance or
business targets and/or require the company to meet specific
service levels, which could increase the variability of the
company’s revenues and impact its margins; Accenture’s results of
operations and share price could be adversely affected if it is
unable to maintain effective internal controls; Accenture may be
subject to criticism and negative publicity related to its
incorporation in Ireland; as well as the risks, uncertainties and
other factors discussed under the “Risk Factors” heading in
Accenture plc’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and other
documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Statements in this news release speak only as of the
date they were made, and Accenture undertakes no duty to update any
forward-looking statements made in this news release or to conform
such statements to actual results or changes in Accenture’s
expectations.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170209005793/en/
AccentureAlison Geib, +1
703-947-4404alison.geib@accenture.com
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