Cisco To Buy British Networking Software Firm To Beef Up Automation

Cisco Systems said Wednesday that it would acquire Ensoft, a privately held British networking software company.

In a blog post announcing the deal, Rob Salvagno, vice president of corporate development and head of Cisco's M&A and venture investment team, said that the deal was meant to “further our commitment to simplify service provider networks through automation and programmability.” Ensoft, based in Harpenden, England, provides software solutions for service provider networks, Salvagno said.

Terms of the deal, which is scheduled to be completed in the second quarter of Cisco’s fiscal 2019, were not disclosed.

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According to its website, Ensoft launched in 1997 and has grown to an annual revenue of 10 million pounds ($12.7 million). Ensoft employs approximately 77 people, according to a Cisco spokeswoman.

Salvagno wrote that Cisco’s networking software strategy is centered on “enabling simplified, scalable, trusted, and automatable IP network infrastructure.”

“Acquiring the Ensoft team accelerates this strategy and strengthens our commitment to our service provider customers,” he continued.

Salvagno said that Ensoft employees would be incorporated into Cisco’s Service Provider Networking Group, led by Senior Vice President and General Manager Sumeet Arora.