Cisco acquires OpenDNS for approximately 570 million euros

Cisco is acquiring the American security company OpenDNS for 635 million dollars, or about 570 million euros. Both companies reported this on Tuesday. OpenDNS offers, among other things, a service for dns servers, an alternative to those of internet providers.

Cisco wants to acquire OpenDNS to better defend itself against cyber criminals. This is necessary because the number of devices connected to the Internet will increase significantly in the coming years. Cisco expects that by 2020 there will be approximately fifty billion ‘smart’ devices.

“The potential for security vulnerabilities and malicious attacks increases exponentially as people, processes, and things become connected to the Internet,” Cisco writes. The network giant wants to take over the security company because the products match the company’s vision. OpenDNS claims to have 65 million daily users.

Cisco pays 635 million dollars for OpenDNS, which amounts to approximately 570 million euros. The employees will be part of the Cisco Security Business Group. The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal year 2016. OpenDNS says it will continue to supply and support its products – also under the Cisco banner.