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Comcast-backed Plume Acquires Walleye for Smart Home Network Security Services

Plume Acquires Network and Security Intelligence Specialist Walleye Networks

Smart home services provider Plume, which is backed by Comcast, has acquired Walleye Networks to bolster its expertise in such areas as Domain Name System (DNS) infrastructure, Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) detection, Network Behavior Anomaly Detection (NBAD), Application Performance Management (APM), and more, the companies say. Financial terms were not disclosed.

This is M&A deal number 494 that MSSP Alert and sister site ChannelE2E have tracked so far in 2020. Find a full list of M&A deals here.

Both Plume and Walleye Networks leverage OpenSync, an open-source framework that allows carriers to deliver home connectivity and entertainment services.

About the Buyer and Seller

Plume is a Comcast-backed startup developing an AI-powered adaptive home Wi-Fi mesh network system, VentureBeat notes. The company in February 2020 raised $85 million in a mixture of equity and debt financing in Feb.

Plume's business targets consumers and ISPs. For consumers, the company strives to deliver "flawless Wi-Fi connectivity, AI cybersecurity, and new levels of control of their home." And for ISPs, Plume offers "unprecedented visibility for support and operations along with data analytics to drive business growth," the company says.

The Plume Partner Program supports ISPs and Value Added Resellers (VARs) of broadband equipment to ISPs, small business, and end-users.

Meanwhile, Walleye Networks' develops analytics software to help secure and protect the "digital health and well-being of family members and devices within the connected home," the company says.

Plume Acquires Walleye Networks: Executive Perspectives

In a prepared statement about the deal, Plume CEO Fahri Diner said:

"Granular network intelligence is a cornerstone of the secure smart home. Walleye Networks enables an unparalleled level of insight with the most robust and in-depth data-driven security solutions available today––all developed to meet the highest levels of privacy. We are thrilled to welcome Derek and this extremely talented group of people to Plume, along with their novel technology and deep subject matter expertise."

Added Derek Lownsbrough, co-founder, Walleye Networks:

"We've had a longstanding and fruitful partnership with Plume, and have worked closely with many of the same communications service provider customers. Plume is driving the smart home experiences of tomorrow, and we couldn't be more excited to join this cause."

Joe Panettieri

Joe Panettieri is co-founder & editorial director of MSSP Alert and ChannelE2E, the two leading news & analysis sites for managed service providers in the cybersecurity market.