Channel investors, Channel partners, Content, Security Program Controls/Technologies

Sophos Acquires Refactr: XDR, MDR Security Gain SOAR Capabilities

Credit: Sophos

Sophos, backed by private equity firm Thoma Bravo, has acquired Refactr, a development and security and operations (DevSecOps) automation platform provider. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

This is M&A deal number 480 that MSSP Alert and ChannelE2E have covered thus far in 2021. See all technology M&A deals for 2021 and 2020 listed here. In addition, we’ve tracked more than 60 MSSP mergers and acquisitions here.

In this deal, Refactr's security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR) capabilities will tuck into Sophos managed threat response (MTR) and extended detection and response (XDR) solutions, the buyer said. Sophos plans to begin offering SOAR options by early 2022.

It's a reasonably safe bet that the Sophos cloud management dashboard for MSPs and MSSPs will also gain SOAR capabilities, MSSP Alert believes, based on the software company's laser-like focus on multi-tenant partner support.

Refactr: Threat Intelligence, Business History

Also, Refactr will help Sophos automate its Adaptive Cybersecurity Ecosystem, the companies stated. The Adaptive Cybersecurity Ecosystem underpins Sophos' solutions, services, threat intelligence and data lake.

Refactr's developers and engineers have already joined Sophos. In addition, Sophos will continue to develop and offer Refactr's platform to channel partners and global organizations. Although headcount figures were not released, Refactr has 14 employees listed on LinkedIn.

Refactr was founded in 2017 by military veteran and industry experts in cloud and cybersecurity. The company's mission was to accelerate adoption of DevSecOps methodologies among security and DevOps teams, Refactr said in its early media statements.

Sophos Cybersecurity Acquisitions

Sophos has been busy acquiring cybersecurity software companies. The company's noteworthy purchases include:

Additional insights from Joe Panettieri.

Dan Kobialka

Dan Kobialka is senior contributing editor, MSSP Alert and ChannelE2E. He covers IT security, IT service provider business strategies and partner programs. Dan holds a M.A. in Print and Multimedia Journalism from Emerson College and a B.A. in English from Bridgewater State University. In his free time, Dan enjoys jogging, traveling, playing sports, touring breweries and watching football.