Telecommunications giant Comcast has quietly acquired BluVector, a network security specialist relying on artificial-intelligence (AI) and proprietary machine learning technology to defend public and private organizations from hackers.
Terms of the deal have not been disclosed by either party. BluVector said its security platform enables companies to accurately detect, analyze and triage threats such as fileless malware, zero-day malware and ransomware in real time. In late 2017, BluVector began offering its platform as a service to managed security service providers that want to add managed detection and response services to their portfolios. It's not clear if the partner program will continue with the Comcast buyout.
The security specialist had previously been acquired in January, 2017 by Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based private equity investor LLR in a leveraged buyout for an undisclosed sum. LLR's investment appears to have been well-timed: Last year, BluVector claimed it had grown its new annual contract value by 130 percent for the first half of 2018 as compared to all of 2017. Contract wins came in the financial services, healthcare, manufacturing and technology industries, the company said.
Comcast Acquires BluVector: Executive Leadership
Here’s BluVector's C-suite realignment resulting from the Comcast deal:
- Newly-named BluVector CEO Eric Malawer will head up business development while collaborating with Comcast’s internal cybersecurity teams on new technology and initiatives. Malawer previously served as cybersecurity staff director for the House Committee on Homeland Security. Prior to joining BluVector, Malawer launched three AI and security companies.
- Comcast chief information security officer Noopur Davis will lead the process of identifying opportunities to leverage the companies’ combined technology and expertise to support new products and initiatives.
- Former CEO Kristin Lovejoy, who left the company with the Comcast deal for the global security leader post at consultancy EY, will continue in an advisory role to BluVector and Comcast.
Last September, BluVector landed what it said was a “multimillion-dollar contract with a U.S. government agency.” At the time, Lovejoy said that “BluVector, born within the defense and intelligence sectors to solve the government’s hardest malware detection challenges, brings over a decade of experience in detecting threats against the government. We’re continuing to serve the growing security needs of federal agencies by helping them lower risk, increase compliance and improve threat detection and response capabilities.”
