UPDATE: On May 27, 2020 VMware officially closed its acquisition of Octarine. The blog post below has been amended to reflect that announcement.
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Today is a very exciting day for VMware and for our customers as we announce our acquisition of Octarine, whose innovative security platform for Kubernetes applications helps simplify DevSecOps and enables cloud native environments to be more secure, from development through runtime.
The unique properties of the cloud (speed, agility, scale) mean that developers are increasingly using containers to modernize applications. As with any major technology adoption, attackers are not far behind, looking to take advantage of new risk areas. Protecting workloads is critical to the security of applications and data inside every organization. Building Octarine’s innovation into the VMware security portfolio will present a major opportunity for our team to further simplify and improve security for our customers.
Just over seven months ago, VMware acquired Carbon Black and announced our plans to be a major security provider with our intrinsic security strategy – protecting any application, running on any cloud, on any device. We’ve established a strong starting position. Today’s announcement reaffirms VMware’s continued commitment to investing in security.
Acquiring Octarine enables us to advance intrinsic security for containers (and Kubernetes environments), by embedding the Octarine technology into the VMware Carbon Black Cloud, and via deep hooks and integrations with the VMware Tanzu platform. Combined with native integrations with VMware vSphere, VMware NSX and VMware Cloud Foundation, we’re creating a unique and compelling solution to better secure workloads. And, with the addition of our VMware AppDefense capabilities merged into the platform, we can fundamentally transform how workloads are better secured.
For customers, we’re delivering world-class workload security solutions as they build modern applications, operationalize more of security and collaborate more effectively.
We believe this is a big leap forward for VMware’s security offerings and the industry at large. Our focus has always been on shifting the balance of power from attackers to defenders and we are excited about the deep container and security expertise that the Octarine team will bring to VMware.
Having been in the security business for more than two decades, I’ve often heard: “security is fundamentally broken because it’s too complex.” And, increasingly, I’m hearing the request for container and Kubernetes support from our customers.
Security clearly doesn’t need a new product; it needs a new approach and I’m proud to be leading the security charge for VMware by delivering on our strategy to make security intrinsic to the enterprise. I believe we are taking a big step in that direction today by announcing the acquisition of Octarine.
We can’t wait to get started. Octarine, welcome to the team!
Forward-Looking Statements
This blog contains forward-looking statements including, among other things, statements regarding the expected benefits of VMware’s acquisition of Octarine and the expected complementary nature and strategic advantages of combined offerings and opportunities. These forward-looking statements are subject to the safe harbor provisions created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk factors, including but not limited to: (1) the ability to successfully integrate acquired companies and assets into VMware; (2) VMware’s customers’ ability to transition to new products, platforms, services, solutions and computing strategies in such areas as containerization, modern applications, intrinsic security and networking, cloud, digital workspaces, virtualization and the software defined data center, and the uncertainty of their acceptance of emerging technology; (3) competitive factors, including but not limited to pricing pressures, industry consolidation, entry of new competitors into the virtualization software and cloud, end user and mobile computing, and security industries, as well as new product and marketing initiatives by VMware’s competitors; (4) VMware’s ability to enter into and maintain strategically effective partnerships; (5) rapid technological changes in the virtualization software and cloud, end user, security and mobile computing industries; (6) other business effects, including those related to industry, market, economic, political, regulatory and global health conditions, such as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; (7) VMware’s ability to protect its proprietary technology; (8) VMware’s ability to attract and retain highly qualified employees; (9) adverse changes in general economic or market conditions; (10) changes in VMware’s financial condition; and (11) VMware’s relationship with Dell Technologies and Dell’s ability to control matters requiring stockholder approval. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this blog, are based on current expectations and are subject to uncertainties and changes in condition, significance, value and effect as well as other risks detailed in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including VMware’s most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K that we may file from time to time, which could cause actual results to vary from expectations. VMware assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release.
