Cellebrite Acquires Computer Forensics Firm BlackBag Technologies -

Cellebrite has acquired computer forensics specialist BlackBag Technologies. Financial terms were not disclosed, but reports peg the price tag at $33 million.

This is M&A and Investment Deal Number 50 that MSSP Alert and ChannelE2E have covered in 2020. See the complete M&A deal list here.

BlackBag offers forensic acquisition and analysis tools for Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS and iOS, and Google Android-based computers and mobile devices. Hundreds of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies around the world, as well as corporations and consultants, leverage the tools for criminal, civil and internal investigations. BlackBag also develops and delivers expert forensics training and certification programs, designed for forensics professionals, the company says.

Cellebrite Funding and Digital Intelligence Focus

Cellebrite, which raised $110 million from IGP Capital in June 2019, positions itself as a “one-stop-shop” for customers' digital investigation needs.

This includes "providing complete coverage of digital data collection tools and sources such as Mobile Devices, Computers, Cloud Data, and Call Data Records with unified analysis and review capabilities to generate a complete intelligence picture," the company says. The effort also includes consent-based evidence collection and management.

Describing the acquisition, Cellebrite CEO Yossi Carmil said:

“The BlackBag Technologies team has built a remarkable business based on their passion to help law enforcement and corporations globally, by equipping officers and executives with the best of breed in Computer Forensics solutions. As the global leader in the field of integrated Digital Intelligence solutions, Cellebrite reinforces the two companies’ commitment to their customers and continues its strategy to further deepen and expand its capabilities in the field of Digital Intelligence to support the growing market needs.”

Added Ken Basore, CEO of BlackBag Technologies:

“Our mission has been clear since the beginning: to develop and deliver innovative solutions that help the law enforcement, corporate and consultant communities reveal the truth in their investigations. There is an incredible synergy between the mission and culture of these two companies. Being part of Cellebrite will unlock huge value to our customers, through our ability to innovate faster and to provide an expanded set of Digital Intelligence solutions and insights.”

M&A activity in the cybersecurity and eDiscovery markets has been strong. Track all MSSP acquisitions here, and recent eDiscovery acquisitions here.