Moving to batten down the hatches in the face of increasing malicious
attacks against mobile devices, handheld manufacturer Symbol Technologies
has acquired networking security outfit Trio Security.
The Holtsville, N.Y.-based Symbol said the addition of Trio’s security
capabilities will help provide seamless network roaming and authentication
and offer enterprise clients assurances that their data and intellectual
property will be safe from users without authorization.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
News of the acquisition comes just a few weeks after Symbol signed a
million-dollar deal to settle accounting fraud charges with the Security and
Exchange Commission (SEC). The federal accounting probe had previously led
to the resignation
of co-founder and board chairman Jerome Swartz.
Symbol Technologies, which also makes wireless bar-code scanning devices,
said the Trio Security purchase will add three-factor user authentication and
single sign-on software to its handheld organizer.
Three-factor authentication typically covers a software key, a password and
user-specific IDs, such as biometrics or the rhythm, speed and acceleration of
a handwritten word.
With three-factor authentication built into its enterprise-focused
handhelds, Symbol said it would offer secure access to real-time information
from the point of capture to the point of management.
The deal also includes the acquisition of biometric verification and
encryption technologies, including a portable encryption library.
Trio Security will be folded into Symbol’s Mobility Software Division,
which handles the development, marketing, delivery and support of
integrated device and network management products.
Separately, Symbol announced the appointment of Arthur O’Donnell to the
newly created chief quality officer post. O’Donnell will retain his post as
senior VP and general manager of Symbol’s Global Services Division and
report directly to CEO William Nuti.
