Romania's Bitdefender Buys Dutch Network Security Startup

Romania's biggest cybersecurity company Bitdefender said on Tuesday that it has acquired Dutch network security analytics company RedSocks, its first acquisition of a tech company in 17 years, in a move to boost its presence on the European market and expand its portfolio.

The purchase was concluded on October 11, said a press release sent to the media by Bitdefender.

RedSocks, a startup founded in 2012, specialises in automated detection of suspicious network behaviour and combating cybercrime. 

The company developed solutions combining machine learning, artificial intelligence and cyber threat intelligence to detect threats that current network security tools have failed to prevent.

RedSocks was acquired just a month after the Romanian cybersecurity company concluded a merger and acquisition in Melbourne, Australia, where it bought its local partner SMS e-Tech, which specialises in sales of cybersecurity solutions.

In 2017, Bitdefender also bought its French partner Profil Technology, which also specialises in sales.

Bitdefender says it provides complex threat protection solutions to around 500 million users in over 150 countries, which makes it one of the largest anti-virus software companies alongside McAfee, Norton and KasperskyLab.

In December 2017, the company's value was estimated at $600 million, and it announced an investment from private equity firm Vitruvian partners, which acquired a 30 per cent stake.

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