Novell buys security monitoring software firm for US$72M

Novell has bought e-Security, a maker of security information management and compliance monitoring software, in a deal worth $US72 million.

Now best known for its Suse Linux operating system and related products, Novell has long sold security and identity management software such as Novell Identity Manager, eDirectory and SecureLogin.

Novell CEO, Jack Messman, said e-Security's flagship Sentinel 5 product would provide a single, real-time, cross-enterprise view of hacker attacks and other security violations.

Novell will start selling Sentinel 5 in May, with new versions of it - and Novell's software - available a few months later.

Messman said acquiring e-Security would add $US20 million in revenue during the next 12 months. He said the deal had been in the works for some time.

Messman declined to comment on whether Novell planned to buy more companies.