Arxan Technologies has acquired Apperian, the mobile application management (MAM) and security specialist. The deal bolsters Arxan's position as a provider of IT management and security tools for mobile and IoT applications, the companies claim. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Apperian's platform has enabled more than 2.5 million enterprise app deployments, and the company's contracted user base grew by more than 180 percent in the past 24 months, the company says. Apperian will become an Arxan subsidiary led by President and GM Mark Lorion, a well-known Apperian executive.
In some ways, Apperian succeeded where portions of the mobile device management (MDM) market stalled. MDM tools for MSPs burst onto the scene as smartphones and tablets proliferated SMB and enterprise networks. But many channel partners initially struggled to build MDM-focused services -- which were built for specific mobile operating systems (Android, iOS, etc.). In stark contrast, Apperian focused on mobile app security -- rather than mobile device or mobile OS security. The app-centric move allowed Apperian to win deals that involve BYOD (bring your own device), contract workers and unmanaged devices.
That approach seems to align with with Arxan's focus. Arxan develops technology that defends applications against attacks, detects attempted attacks at run-time, and deters attacks by stopping, alerting or repairing detected attacks.
Arxan Acquires Apperian: Partner Strategy?
Among the big questions: How exactly will Arxan extend Apperian from app security toward IoT (Internet of Things) security? In a letter to partners and customers, Lorion provided some clues:
"Today is a big day in Apperian history. We are excited to share that Arxan Technologies has completed its acquisition of Apperian. Together, we will establish a new bar for enabling organizations to truly leverage the full potential of apps -- mobile, IoT, desktop, and server -- and reaching all possible users and devices. By securely deploying any app to any device, we’re able to reach users and devices in a secure way simply not possible with traditional technologies."
Apperian's partner program includes resellers, app developers, development platforms and technology companies. MSPs are curiously absent from that formal list, but are surely working with the company. Axan's partner program, meanwhile, includes resellers, referral partners, services providers and technology companies.
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