LANDesk Acquires Virtualization Vendor AppSense, Adds Endpoint Security To Its Portfolio

AppSense, a vendor of technology that speeds Windows desktop migrations and virtual desktop projects, is being acquired by endpoint security and management vendor LANDesk, the vendors said Monday.

Terms of the deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, weren't disclosed.

One source close to AppSense told CRN the vendor had around $100 million in revenue during its fiscal 2015 year, which ended June 30.

AppSense, founded in the U.K. in 1999 and now based in Sunnyvale, Calif., made a name for itself early on with user virtualization technology, which enables profile and configuration data to be moved easily across devices.

But AppSense in recent years has been playing up its endpoint security capabilities, and LANDesk sees big potential in this side of its business, Jed Ayres, chief marketing officer at AppSense, told CRN in an interview.

"Endpoint security has become a big differentiator for AppSense," Ayres said.

Ira Silverman, president and CEO of Gotham Technology Group, a New York-based AppSense partner, told CRN he sees LANDesk's acquisition of AppSense as a "positive move" for the channel.

"Both companies have a channel-first approach to working with their partners which will continue to build strong growth opportunities for us," he said in an email.

LANDesk, Salt Lake City, said in a news release that AppSense's endpoint security technology, combined with its own, will mitigate up to 85 percent of threats. LANDesk said the deal will also enable it to cover physical and virtual environments.

LANDesk CEO Steve Daly said in a statement that AppSense is "a great strategic fit," one which will bolster his company's virtualization technology portfolio.

While terms of the deal aren't being disclosed, a source told CRN the AppSense buy is largest deal in the history of LANDesk, which was founded in 1985. LANDesk was separated from manufacturing and technology company Emerson in 2010 and acquired by investment firm Thoma Bravo.