IBM has acquired Q1 Labs, a Massachusetts-based security intelligence software provider that employs 50 people in Belfast. IBM will merge Q1 Labs into its Security Systems Division.
The new division is to be led by Brendan Hannigan, CEO of Q1 Labs. Investors in Q1 Labs include Polaris Ventures, which last week located its Dogpatch Europe Lab in Dublin.
The new division will target a $94bn opportunity in security software and services, which has a nearly 12pc compound annual growth rate, according to IBM estimates.
Q1 Labs will join the more than 10 strategic security acquisitions IBM has made in the last decade and the more than 25 analytics-related purchases, including the recently announced acquisition of security analytics software firm, i2.
Q1 Labs’ advanced analytics and correlation capabilities can automatically detect and flag actions across an enterprise that deviate from prescribed policies and typical behaviour to help prevent breaches, such as an employee accessing unauthorised information.
“Since perimeter defence alone is no longer capable of thwarting all threats. IBM is in a unique position to shift security thinking to an integrated, predictive approach,” said Brendan Hannigan, CEO of Q1 Labs.
“Q1 Labs’ security analytics will add greater intelligence to IBM’s security portfolio and continue to distinguish IBM from competitors.”
