BlackBerry acquires WatchDox to bolster enterprise security operations

BlackBerry has always excelled in providing its users with security and encryption capabilities and with this latest acquisition in its bag, the Canadian communications company is bolstering its reputation. BlackBerry has bought WatchDox Ltd, a company founded in 2008, fostering with the acquisition its shift towards software.

WatchDox is a data security company with headquarters in California and research and development facilities in Israel. It offers secure enterprise file-sync-and-share (EFSS) solutions that allow users to protect, share and work with their files on any device. WatchDox platform is such that it secures documents that can be shared among co-workers and other authorised individuals. The security extends to third parties, allowing files to maintain their security even at the hands of someone outside of the organisation and cannot be used elsewhere.

The company has not revealed details of the deal but the rumour is that it paid between US$100-million and US$150-million for the company.

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“BlackBerry is constantly expanding the potential of data security so that it enables more collaboration and sharing rather than creating limitations,” said John Chen, BlackBerry Executive Chairman and CEO, in a statement.

This acquisition represents another key step forward as we transition BlackBerry into the premier platform for secure mobile communications software and applications, supporting all devices and operating systems. Together with last year’s Secusmart acquisition, Samsung partnership, our own internal development efforts, and now the acquisition of WatchDox, we now have capabilities to secure communications end-to-end from voice, text, messaging, data and now enterprise file-sync-and share.

In the presser, BlackBerry describes WatchDox as a company that serves leading organizations across a variety of industry sectors in which secure collaboration and mobility are essential, including government, healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, law and media.

WatchDox CEO and founder, Moti Rafalin, responded saying that: “Enterprises require secure mobile solutions that enable users to more easily collaborate and increase their productivity. The combination of BlackBerry’s security leadership and EMM portfolio with WatchDox technology will bring the most productive and collaborative mobility solution to organizations that need innovative ways to conduct business securely and efficiently.”

BlackBerry does not intend to move WatchDox from Israel to Canada, choosing instead to leverage its 100-strong team in Israel to build its R&D operations in the country.