BlackBerry to buy mobile security firm Secusmart

29 Jul 2014

Smartphone maker BlackBerry is to acquire mobile security company Secusmart GmbH for an undisclosed sum in an effort to bolster its own security solutions.

Based in Düsseldorf, Germany, Secusmart GmbH provides voice and data encryption and anti-eavesdropping technologies for government organisations, enterprises and telecommunications service providers in Germany and abroad.

John Chen, CEO of BlackBerry, said his company is improving its security solutions to keep up with the increasing complexity of enterprise mobility, with devices being used for more critical tasks and to store more critical data, all in the face of more sophisticated security attacks.

“The acquisition of Secusmart underscores our focus on addressing growing security costs and threats ranging from individual privacy to national security,” said Chen.

Dr Hans-Christoph Quelle, managing director of Secusmart, said Secusmart and BlackBerry’s solution already meets the highest security requirements of the German federal authorities and NATO for restricted communications.

“We see significant opportunities to introduce Secusmart’s solutions to more of BlackBerry’s government and enterprise customers around the world,” Quelle said of the acquisition.

Tina Costanza was a journalist and sub-editor at Silicon Republic

editorial@siliconrepublic.com