Sources: Sophos To Acquire Email Security Player Reflexion Networks

Sophos this week will acquire SMB email security and archiving powerhouse Reflexion Networks, CRN has learned.

The deal gives Sophos a bigger footprint in the SMB cloud market, where Reflexion has a robust, loyal channel following.

Sophos is in the "very final stages" of discussions with Reflexion and plans to disclose the acquisition this week, as early as Wednesday, sources said.

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Reflexion's technology will help significantly boost Sophos' MSP offerings and "connects well" with its cloud portfolio, said one source at Burlington, Mass.-based Sophos familiar with the company's plans.

"It's going to be a great tech play for us in the long term, but in the short term, we want to be able to provide the tech they're providing to our partners as well," the source said.

Reflexion is a Woburn, Mass.-based cloud email security, disaster recovery and encryption company that is focused on small to midsize businesses.

CRN reached out to Sophos and Reflexion for comment. Reflexion did not comment, and Sophos "does not comment on rumor or speculation," according to a statement.

Sophos partners cheered the purchase, calling it an "excellent" move for the security company and its channel.

The acquisition will "strengthen their direction" in cloud-based solutions and fit in with the company's strategy under its "forward-thinking" channel leadership, said Justin Kallhoff, CEO at Lincoln, Neb.-based Infogressive, when told of the deal by CRN.

"Sophos is going to have a bright future, no doubt about it. Just the brain power they have acquired alone from a number of places, there's no doubt we are going to see growth. What I have seen from their direction and roadmap is going to make a difference," Kallhoff said.

An email security company acquisition fits Sophos's focused strategy to expand beyond its end-point security portfolio into other emerging security technology areas, such as unified threat management, said Sean Stenovich, partner and owner of Farmers Branch, Texas-based M&S Technologies, when told by CRN of the planned acquisition.

"I've seen them be very self-aware. They seem to have a pretty good direction and strategy. … They seem to be very strategic from all fronts," Stenovich said.

While he was not familiar with Reflexion, he was confident that it would be a good move for channel partners based on Sophos' acquisition track record and channel-friendly strategy. "I would have confidence that they would have a good strategy to roll that out to partners," Stenovich said.

PUBLISHED MAY 19, 2015