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Cisco has revealed plans to acquire hyperconverged infrastructure start-up, Skyport Systems, in a move that will see it bolster its hybrid cloud standing.
Founded in 2013, Skyport Systems provides what it claims is the industry’s first “inherently” secure, hyperconverged platform, designed to simplify IT infrastructure by converging compute, virtualisation, networking, and storage onto a single platform.
The company suggests its cloud managed, on-premises solution provides tech companies with more control and flexibility, while saving time and resources with streamlined and automated operations.
Among other things, Skyport Systems says its technology allows enterprises to deliver next-generation hybrid cloud edge services in a way that allows central IT groups to increase the security of deployments.
News of the proposed acquisition comes as little surprise, given Cisco’s prior interest in the company; it took part in a US$30 million capital raising effort, along with Google Ventures in 2016, to help ramp up the delivery of the start-up’s computing infrastructure offering to enterprises.
According to Cisco Investments head of corporate development, Rob Salvagno, the acquisition will see Skyport Systems and its team folded into Cisco’s existing business.
“I’m excited to share that today Cisco announced its intent to acquire Skyport Systems, a privately-held company providing cloud-managed, hyperconverged systems that run and protect business-critical applications,” Salvagno said.
“This acquisition will enable Cisco to utilise Skyport’s intellectual property, seasoned software and network expertise to accelerate priority areas across multiple Cisco portfolios.
“The Skyport Systems team will join the Data Centre – Computing Systems Product Group, led by senior vice president and general manager, Liz Centoni, and the Service Provider – Networking Group led by senior vice president and general manager, Jonathan Davidson,” he said.
The terms and purchase price of the acquisition have not been disclosed.
The proposed deal comes almost two months after Cisco announced plans to acquire India-based cloud solutions provider, Cmpute.io, as part of a broader push to bolster its cloud offering.
In October last year, Cisco revealed its continued efforts to pivot away from traditional markets through plans to acquire BroadSoft, as the tech giant attempts to reinvent itself as a software and cloud vendor.
Expected to close during the first quarter of the calendar year 2018, the US$1.9 billion buy builds on six previous acquisitions during 2017, including application intelligence specialists AppDynamics in January.
