Dell expands its software business further, buying California-based software security outfit SonicWall for an unspecified sum.
SonicWall makes "unified threat management" (tools overseeing other security tools, such as antivirus applications to VPNs and intrusion-detection tools) and firewall software. It sells through a network of around 1500 channel partners to over 300000 customers, with 2011 revenues reaching around $260M.
Being California-based, SonicWall is close to the Dell Silicon Valley Research and Development Centre, an office housing former employees from purchases such as Scalent, Ocarina and Everdream.
Dell is being fairly busy with software acquisitions-- earlier purchases include AppAssure (backup software), SecureWorks (security), Scalent (data centre management) and Boomi (business back-end application integration).