April 27, 2009

Acquisition Nets Big Names for ISP Security Company

A Canadian provider of Internet security for ISPs has made a corporate acquisition that immediately positions it as a vendor to some tier 1 U.S. cable companies.

Montreal-based Radialpoint has acquired Toronto-based Casero, a provider of online backup and sharing for ISPs. (For the initial announcement, click here.)
 
According to Radialpoint's announcement, Casero's technology has been "proven" by BT, Comcast, Cox Communications, Bell Canada and Sky.

"All current contracts and in-market programs with these customers will now be under Radialpoint," said Singu Srinivas, VP sales and marketing at Radialpoint.

Srinivas said Bell Canada was the only customer that both companies served independently.

"We have been working with Bell for almost six years. (They are) a Casero customer as well. We're excited about all the other customers Casero brings with it," Srinivas said.

With the addition of Casero, Radialpoint now offers three services for ISPs: security, storage and tech support.

Radialpoint's security software helps operators deal with viruses and malware that attack end-users' computers, said Marty Algire, VP products at Radialpoint in an interview earlier this year. ISPs provide Radialpoint's security product either as a pay service or as part of a value-added service, he said.

Competitors in the security space would include Symantic and Norton, said Srinivas.

In January, Radialpoint announced it had acquired HiWired, a provider of remote tech support for consumers struggling with problems such as infected PCs or networking configurations.

Srinivas mentioned Support.com and PlumChoice as competitors in the tech support category.

The newest acquisition, Casero, is best known for its Casero Vault service, an online backup and sharing service that allows ISPs to give subscribers a way to organize, store and share personal data, according to Radialpoint's announcement. Subscribers who want to back up their computer hard drives can either buy an external drive or use a service such as Casero's, offered through their ISP.

Industry competition to Casero includes SwapDrive and Mozy, Srinivas said.

- Linda Hardesty

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