FireEye snaps up cyber forensics firm Mandiant for $1 billion cash-stock deal

Security vendor FireEye today announced it has acquired privately-held endpoint security incident response vendor Mandiant for $1 billion with $106.5 million in cash.

FireEye and Mandiant said they intend to integrate Mandiant’s portfolio of products with FireEye’s  to develop new enterprise and cloud products and services. For one thing, FireEye said Mandiant’s endpoint threat detection and response products will be incorporated as a core element of the FireEye Oculus platform. FireEye’s CEO Dave DeWalt says the goal is to develop comprehensive products aimed at combating advanced threats that are stealthy attacks on organizations.

+MORE ON NETWORK WORLD What to expect of Internet of Things in 2014 | Washington Post reports servers attacked, Chinese espionage suspected+

Network World - Security vendor FireEye today announced it has acquired privately-held endpoint security incident response vendor Mandiant for $1 billion with $106.5 million in cash.

FireEye and Mandiant said they intend to integrate Mandiant’s portfolio of products with FireEye’s  to develop new enterprise and cloud products and services. For one thing, FireEye said Mandiant’s endpoint threat detection and response products will be incorporated as a core element of the FireEye Oculus platform. FireEye’s CEO Dave DeWalt says the goal is to develop comprehensive products aimed at combating advanced threats that are stealthy attacks on organizations.

+MORE ON NETWORK WORLD What to expect of Internet of Things in 2014 | Washington Post reports servers attacked, Chinese espionage suspected+

Mandiant has become known for forensic work it has done to assist a wide variety of companies, including large media organizations such as the Washington Post, determine how their networks have been attacked, often for purposes of cyber-espionage. Kevin Mandia, Mandiant’s founder and CEO, has been appointed by the FireEye board of directors to the position of senior vice president and chief operating office at FireEye. FireEye indicated it now provides its threat-protection software to more than 1,500 government, enterprise and small to mid-sized customers.

Ellen Messmer is senior editor at Network World, an IDG website, where she covers news and technology trends related to information security. Twitter: MessmerE. E-mail: emessmer@nww.com

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VT Is Tops in Digital Forensics!

Thanks to DFI News for alerting us to this blog post about the “Top 5 States for Computer Forensics”. The post ranks Vermont as #2 in the country because of Champlain College. According to the blog:

2. Vermont

Vermont makes the list as it is home to Champlain College. This small, liberal arts institution was founded in 1878 and offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Digital Forensics, as well as a Master of Science in Digital Investigation Management. Both programs are highly ranked, and offer students real-world experience, and intensive training techniques.

Not only educating students, Champlain's Patrick Leahy Center for Digital Investigation provides computer forensics and digital investigation operational training, support and research, as well as other technical services that assist law enforcement in Vermont, and throughout the nation.

Read more here to see the entire piece, including who was ranked #1, and why.

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