BlackBerry acquires security company Cylance

BlackBerry acquires American company Cylance. Cylance specializes in using machine learning and other artificial intelligence techniques for IT security applications.

BlackBerry pays $1.4 billion for Cylance. BlackBerry wants to use the knowledge of the company founded in 2012 from Irvine to improve the security of its QNX operating system. This software is used in, among other things, self-driving cars.

In addition, BlackBerry hopes to better secure its Unified Endpoint Manager with Cylance in its ranks. This platform allows users to manage various apps and devices remotely, with support for iOS, Android, Windows, Wear OS, WatchOS and Samsung Knox, among others. BlackBerry is also thinking of security applications for the Internet of Things.

BlackBerry expects the acquisition to close before February 2019, after which the acquired company will operate as a separate business division within BlackBerry Limited.