Channel investors, Channel partners, Content

Fortinet Buys SOAR Provider CyberSponse: Updates Security Fabric

Fortinet has acquired CyberSponse, a security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR) provider, for an undisclosed sum. The move comes after Fortinet in October purchased enSilo, a managed detection and response (MDR) provider.

The CyberSponse acquisition enables MSSPs to deliver MDR services that leverage the CyberSponse platform and Fortinet's FortiAnalyzer, FortiSIEM, FortiInsight and FortiEDR offerings, the companies said. Fortinet also has integrated CyberSponse's platform into the Fortinet Security Fabric, which now provides organizations with the following security capabilities:

  • Architecture with distributed multi-tenancy.
  • Over 325 connectors to integrate with all major security vendors and technologies.
  • More than 200 out-of-the-box incident response playbooks.
  • Case management modules with incident timeline and asset correlation views.
  • Automated ROI and savings measurement tool.
  • Role-based access control to secure user-related data.

CyberSponse's platform helps organizations build, standardize and customize automated security playbooks without any coding, the company said. It ensures that an organization can automate and orchestrate its security stack from a single console.

What Does the CyberSponse Acquisition Mean for Fortinet?

Fortinet intends to continue to invest in CyberSponse's platform, CEO Ken Xie wrote in a letter to customers and partners about the CyberSponse acquisition. Xie also indicated that Fortinet is exploring additional CyberSponse integrations and use cases.

Furthermore, the CyberSponse acquisition could help Fortinet capitalize on the rising demand for SOAR solutions globally.

Global SOAR market revenues are projected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 14.6 percent between 2019 and 2025, according to industry analyst Market Research Future. In addition, these revenues could total more than $2 billion by 2025.

Fortinet currently has a market value of $18 billion, Xie noted. It ranks first in terms of most security appliances shipped worldwide and supports more than 425,000 customers.

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.