Software licensing management is critical to software vendors, original equipment manufacturers as well as end users. Introducing automation makes for revenue opportunity, reduced customer churn and allows IT teams to ensure all systems are go. Another top concern is security and today we see the two come together in the culmination of a major industry acquisition.
This week, Thales completed the acquisition of Gemalto. The nearly $5.4 billion dollar transaction results in a market leading security titan, offering biometrics and other digital identity and security technologies to critical infrastructure providers. Gemalto (News - Alert) will now be the cloud protection and licensing division of Thales led by Sebastien Cano, SVP.
The newly formed entity brings together two prominent firms. Thales (News - Alert) touts leadership in military, financial services, mass transit, space equipment and aerospace, Gemalto, on the other hand, is a leader in the provision of government identification systems, which led the European Commission to investigate the transaction for antitrust concerns.
“With Gemalto, a global leader in digital identification and data protection, Thales has acquired a set of highly complementary technologies and competencies with applications in all of our five vertical markets, which are now redefined as aerospace; space; ground transportation; digital identity and security; and defense and security,” says Thales Chairman and CEO Patrice Caine. “These are the smart technologies that help people make the best choices at every decisive moment. The acquisition is a turning point for the Group’s 80,000 employees. Together, we are creating a giant in digital identity and security with the capabilities to compete in the big leagues worldwide.”
Now, Gemalto will be known as Thales’ Digital Identity and Security (DIS) division and will work with civil and defense customers across the 68 countries Thales has presence. In addition, the acquisition augments the Thales footprint in North America, Latin America as well as Southeast and Northern Asia.
See who Thales and Gemalto are: Infogragphic
Thales Cloud protection and Licensing video
Thales building the next generation of digital security, click here
Edited by Maurice Nagle