Sophos Acquires SurfRight To Strengthen Its Endpoint Security Capabilities

Cybersecurity firm Sophos, a global leader in network and endpoint security, has acquired Dutch security firm SurfRight, which specializes in endpoint threat detection and response (ETDR) and threat prevention, for $31.8 million.

The deal will further strengthen Sophos’ leading endpoint protection technology, as well as enhance the effectiveness of Sophos’ synchronized security strategy, in which multiple components of security protection, include network security and endpoint security.  

Sophos said it plans to immediately integrate the SurfRight technology into its line of endpoint security systems and on completion will make the technology available via its global channel of 15,000 partners. Sophos also said it will continue development and support for SurfRight’s existing offerings including the HitmanPro range of malware scanning and removal tools. 

Following the acquisition, Sophos will retain all of SurfRight’s employees including the company’s headquarters in Hengelo, Netherlands. In addition, SurfRight CEO Marke Loman will also join the Sophos End User Security Group. 

Based in Hengelo, Netherlands-based SurfRight provides signature-less, next-gen endpoint threat detection and response as well as advanced threat prevention. The company’s real-time anti-exploit technology focuses on detecting and preventing the memory manipulations and abuses that allow malicious code top run in the first place. SurfRight’s portfolio also includes anti-espionage technology and enhanced protection against ransom attacks.

Kris Hagerman, CEO at Sophos, said in a statement: “SurfRight is a growing, profitable business with an established customer base and proven security capabilities. The team has engineered powerful, innovative next-generation endpoint technologies that provide multiple advanced protection and mitigation elements, and yet are simple to use”, and also added that: “SurfRight’s products embody the same product vision we have at Sophos – that even the most advanced IT security products should be simple to deploy and manage by organizations of any size. We are excited to welcome SurfRight to Sophos and look forward to introducing the benefits of this leading-edge technology to our global customer and partner base.”

Dan Schiappa, Senior Vice President of Sophos End User Security Group, said in a blog post: “Sophos was on a mission to build or buy the best next-gen endpoint security products in the world.”

"After an extensive search, we found that … SurfRight actually had the very best technology that mapped to our desire for industry-leading, next-gen endpoint protection," added Schiappa.

The endpoint security market is growing fast and gaining too much attention these days. According to a recent Research and Market report, the endpoint security market is expected to grow from $11.6 billion in 2015 to $17.4 billion by the year 2020. 

Sophos is aggressively acquiring companies to capture more share in the fast-growing endpoint security market and to keep pace with the fast-evolving threat landscape. In June, it acquired Reflexion Networks to boost its offerings around cloud-based email security and support for managed service providers.

Founded in 1985, Sophos is a leading security software company based in Oxford, UK. The company has been recognized as a leader in endpoint protection, with a growing set of next-generation technologies such as behavior-based analytics, malicious traffic detection that monitors attempted outbound connections to known bad URLs, and Application Reputation.