Qualys Dives Into Mobile, IoT Security With Buy Of Startup 1Mobility

Qualys has extended the power of its cloud-based security and compliance platform to millions of mobile and IoT devices with the purchase of 1Mobility.

The Foster City, Calif.-based cloud security vendor said its acquisition of Singapore-based 1Mobility will make it possible for enterprises to assess the security and compliance of all Android, iOS and Windows Mobile devices in their environment. Mobile devices that are compromised or out of compliance can be quarantined with 1Mobility's technology, according to Qualys.

"With the acquisition of 1Mobility, Qualys is uniquely positioned to provide visibility across on-premises, endpoints, cloud(s) and now mobile and IoT environments," Philippe Courtot, chairman and CEO of Qualys, said in a statement. "1Mobility has built a comprehensive and well-architected technology that allows organizations to manage and secure mobile and IoT devices at scale."

[Related: Qualys To Buy Threat Detection Startup NetWatcher To Strengthen Ties With MSSPs]

Qualys's stock is down $1.00 (1.37%) to $71.75 in trading Monday morning. Terms of the deal, which was announced before the market opened, weren't disclosed, and Qualys didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

1Mobility was incorporated in 2014 and employs between 51 and 200 people, according to LinkedIn. 1Mobility has generated revenue from more than 150 clients globally, according to the company's website.

The acquisition will enable Qualys to extend its PCI certification to mobile devices and facilitate the distribution of apps and security policies over the air to corporate or employee-owned devices, according to Qualys. 1Mobility's offering will be fully integrated with the Qualys Cloud Platform and its Cloud Apps, Qualys said, with commercial availability expected in early 2019.

1Mobility is an Enterprise Mobility Management SaaS platform with capabilities around bring your own device (BYOD) management, data loss prevention, mobile threat management and compliance enforcement.

BYOD creates challenges around managing and securing corporate data on personal devices, according to Qualys. 1Mobility's technology can protect the privacy of employees without compromising the security of corporate data or assets, it said.

1Mobility uses containerization, device feature restrictions, encryption, and at-rest and in-transit data security to minimize data loss and vulnerabilities, Qualys said. Proactive threat detection from 1Mobility, meanwhile, can eliminate vulnerabilities due to mobile malware on both corporate and employee-owned devices, according to the company.

Compliance enforcement is delivered by 1Mobility through various policies as well as automated monitoring and actions for noncompliant devices, according to Qualys. 1Mobility extends capabilities like geo-fencing, kiosk management, containerization, blacklisting of apps and security browsing, Qualys said.

Overall, 1Mobility said its technology allows organizations to take control of their security policies, better manage the risk around enterprise data and IP, increase productivity and modernize infrastructure, and save money.

1Mobility's channel ecosystem includes telecom service providers, device manufacturers, referral partners and IT solution providers, and said its offering can help with recurring revenue and client retention, according to the company's website. The company is willing to white-label or customize its offering so that it can better integrate into existing solutions.

This is Qualys's second acquisition in recent months. The company in November bought Reston, Va.-based startup NetWatcher, which provides businesses with a real-time view of potential security vulnerabilities such as weak passwords, unsafe behavior and outdated software.