Fortinet Buys Cloud Security and Networking Innovator, OPAQ Networks

Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT), a global provider of automated cybersecurity solutions, has acquired OPAQ Networks – a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) cloud provider based in Herndon, Virginia. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

OPAQ’s Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) cloud solution protects organizations’ distributed networks – from data centers, to branch offices, to remote users, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

Fortinet’s Security Fabric combined with OPAQ’s patented ZTNA solution would enhance Fortinet’s existing SASE offering. It would form a “best-in-class” SASE cloud security platform with this Zero Trust access and security solution.

Together, it provides firewall and SD-WAN capabilities, web security, sandboxing, advanced endpoint, identity / multi factor authentication, and multi-cloud workload protection. It also provides cloud application security broker (CASB), browser isolation, and web application firewalling capabilities.

SASE Platform

Ken Xie
“The acquisition of OPAQ further enhances our existing SASE offering, enabling Fortinet to deliver the most complete SASE platform on the market,” said Ken Xie, Founder, Chairman of the Board, and CEO.

“The recent SASE market momentum further validates our Security-driven Networking approach and underscores what we’ve been saying for years. In this era of hyperconnectivity and expanding networks; with the network edge stretching across the entire digital infrastructure, networking and security must converge,” said Ken Xie, Founder, Chairman of the Board, and CEO. “In fact, the acquisition of OPAQ actually further enhances our existing SASE offering, enabling Fortinet to deliver the most complete SASE platform on the market. The Fortinet SASE platform delivers the broadest security and industry-leading SD-WAN and networking offerings that can all be delivered to customers and partners through a flexible, cost efficient and patented zero-trust cloud architecture.”

Given remote workforce trends, with exponentially more users, devices, applications, services, and data outside of a traditional enterprise edge than inside, the integration of Fortinet’s broad Security Fabric with OPAQ’s cloud platform would offer customers and partners more choices in how they can consume best-of-breed security. It is yet another differentiated way Fortinet is empowering customers with integrated security and networking innovation in real-time.