By Calvin Biesecker
Continuing its run of small acquisitions in targeted growth areas, Boeing [BA] yesterday said it has agreed to acquire eXMeritus, Inc., as it seeks to boost its capabilities in cyber security.
Terms of the deal, which is expected to close this month, were not disclosed. eXMeritus, which is based in Northern Virginia, has fewer than 30 employees. Boeing said the deal would be immaterial to its financial guidance.
eXMeritus provides hardware and software that allows its customers to share information securely across classified and unclassified networks and systems. “For example, eXMeritus’ products are designed to prevent users from accessing information at a higher [security] classification than they are authorized,” a Boeing spokesman told Defense Daily. “We will be integrating their products and services into Boeing’s offerings.”
The company’s main product is called HardwareWall, a secure data transfer system that “meets and exceeds all mission and information assurance requirements for the world’s highest level security directives,” according to product information posted on eXMeritus’ web site. Boeing said that the United States government has certified and accredited eXMeritus’ products to work on its most trusted systems.
Customers include federal government and law enforcement organizations. eXMeritus deals directly with government customers and also through larger integrators.
The pending acquisition follows two others last year with cyber security capabilities that Boeing did not announce through press releases but has discussed publicly. One of the deals was for Ravenwing, a Northern Virginia based information technology firm, and the other was for Kestrel Enterprises, Inc., a woman-owned small information technology business in Washington, D.C.
eXMeritus will operate within Boeing Integrated Defense Systems’ Network and Space Systems unit.
In addition to the Kestrel and Ravenwing acquisitions last year, Boeing acquired Digital Receiver Technology, a developer of digital signal processors used in surveillance equipment by customers in the intelligence area. Last year Boeing also acquired low-cost unmanned aerial vehicle provider Insitu and two firms, Tapestry Solutions and Federated Software, which specialize in logistics command and control.