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Posts Tagged ‘applications’

IBM enters HR web applications market with Kenexa buy

August 28th, 2012

IBM Corp will buy Kenexa Corp for about $1.3 billion to enter the human resources software market in a move that would likely increase competition with Oracle Corp and SAP AG who recently bought into the sector.

The deal underpins the importance that slow-growing technology giants place on faster-growing, web-based software makers, whose products are less vulnerable to the economic downturn as there are no upfront costs for program licenses, dedicated hardware or installation.

Germany’s SAP bought Kenexa’s competitor SuccessFactors for $3.4 billion in cash last December, while Oracle bought rival Taleo Corp for about $1.9 billion in February.

The two companies made other cloud purchases, including RightNow Technologies and Ariba Inc

“IBM is widely regarded as a social enterprise thought leader, though monetization has been largely concentrated around services,” Credit Agricole Securities analyst Ed Maguire said in a note.

“With 80 percent of revenue from subscriptions and a substantial consulting component, Kenexa advances IBM’s strategy toward higher-value software as a service and domain expertise.”

Kenexa shares jumped nearly 42 percent, equaling the premium offered, to a life high of $45.92 on the New York Stock Exchange on Monday. Shares of peer Cornerstone OnDemand Inc were up 7 percent at $26.82 in afternoon trading.

The acquisition suggests that IBM is ready to find a foothold in the fiercely competitive market for delivering business applications via the web.

It brings the company face-to face against close partner SAP and rivals Oracle and Salesforce.com Inc, the largest maker of web-based software in a crowded market.

“This is a big step,” said Nucleus Research analyst Rebecca Wettemann. The move makes it clear that IBM is serious about taking on Oracle, SAP and Salesforce.com in the business applications market, the analyst said.

“This brings the arms race up a notch.” As well as the big firms, there are plenty of private producers of HR software, such as Silicon Valley Workday, founded by ex-PeopleSoft executives, which filed for an initial public offering recently.

IBM is expanding in the fast-growing field of delivering business applications through the Web as its new CEO Ginni Rometty looks to make her imprint on the 100-year-old company that is widely considered one of the world’s most conservative computer technology firms.

“IBM has previously suggested the return on software acquisitions is the best it has seen in recent years. We expect continued acquisition activity this year,” ISI Group analyst Brian Marshall said in a note.

IBM has focused its highly profitable software division on email, databases, operating systems and “middleware” – programs that make up the plumbing of computer networks. It has shied away from selling applications such as human resources software.

“Following Oracle’s move into hardware and SAP’s move into the database market, both of which position these leading apps companies more in IBM’s traditional markets, IBM has perhaps fewer reservations about participating in the apps and software-as-a-service market,” Nomura analysts said.

“The Kenexa acquisition will complement IBM’s social business and HR business services leadership,” IBM said, adding that it expects the transaction to close in the fourth quarter.

Kenexa has more than 8,900 customers across financial services, pharmaceuticals, retail and consumer industries, it said.

Lazard served as financial adviser for Kenexa on the deal, while Pepper Hamilton LLP was its legal adviser.

Source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international-business/ibm-enters-hr-web-applications-market-with-kenexa-buy/articleshow/15848775.cms

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Posted in Software News

Tags: applications Market Software Web

Metaforic Extends Software Immune System To Protect Applications Running On Apple iOS Devices

June 21st, 2012

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Metaforic, the innovative software security company, today announced that its world-class software immune system has been extended to protect iOS applications on Apple iPhones and iPads and other Apple devices.

In 2011, more than 200 million iOS devices were sold with more than 14 billion Apple apps downloaded[i]. This proliferation of smartphone apps has unfortunately been accompanied by an explosion of malware on these devices. By extending its software security to iOS applications, Metaforic empowers developers to create secure and tamper-proof applications.

“The proliferation of iPhones, iPads and Android mobile devices greatly increases the risk of identity theft, fraud and espionage. This is particularly evident as the public’s use of these devices grows for financial transactions and companies allow employees to Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) to their workplaces,” said Dr. C. Warren Axelrod, research director for financial services at U.S. Cyber Consequences Unit. “Metaforic’s unique tamper-proofing approach to application, data and transaction security provides an effective and efficient way to harden apps against malicious attacks.”

Using Metaforic technology, application developers can automatically infuse a patented immune system into their iOS apps to ensure they can defend themselves from malware, subversion, tampering, or other attacks, protecting both themselves and their users. Building security into the application is particularly critical on iOS as Apple restricts third-party security applications, such as anti-malware offerings or BYOD protection.

Metaforic’s software immunization protection offers a critical weapon to counter the growing onslaught of threats targeting consumers, financial institutions and corporations. The Juniper Networks Mobile Threat Center’s 2011 Mobile Threats Report* states that malware has more than doubled on smartphone platforms in 2011[ii]. The same report also notes that less than one in 20 smartphones and tablets have third-party security software installed, despite a steady increase in threats.

Metaforic enables application creators to protect their apps against such threats, even in exposed environments, where there may be no third-party security available and the users’ devices may already be rooted or jail-broken.

Metaforic defeats some of the most common attacks on iOS applications, including:

Repackaging applications with malicious malware
Attacks on communications such as MITM
Signature or encryption key subversion
Malware that changes application logic

Source:http://www.technology-digital.com/press_releases/metaforic-extends-software-immune-system-to-protect-applications-running-on-apple-ios-devices

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Posted in Software News

Tags: applications Protect Software System

Data Center Companies Rev Up For Age of Applications

May 30th, 2012

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It’s all about the apps.

No, not software programs that run on smartphones, though that’s a booming business to be sure.

But apps also are the name of the game in the data center world, where a wide range of companies sell hardware or software for facilities that house computer servers and data storage systems.

Large companies build and run their own private data centers or outsource some of their computing resources to service providers. Data center computers process business applications and number-crunching tasks. Many companies now rent computing resources in remote data centers via the Internet from “cloud” service providers such as Rackspace Hosting (RAX).

Providing a top-notch computing environment for apps involves high-speed telecom links, secure networks and operating systems that distribute workloads among server farms. Firms such as F5 Networks (FFIV), Sourcefire (FIRE) and startup Palo Alto Networks are focusing on sales of products that protect Web server applications from cyber attacks.

Rackspace, Amazon.com (AMZN) and Citrix Systems (CTXS) are pushing new cloud operating systems that make it easier to offload business apps from private data centers to shared public cloud facilities.

Equinix (EQIX) is among companies that sell data center space, along with power and cooling. Customers bring their own servers. Equinix CEO Steve Smith says he’s increasingly focused on what customers need data center space for.

“The game has shifted away from power and space. We go to customers now and talk about what applications they’re going to deploy in (data centers),” Smith told IBD.

“Eventually you have to talk about how many servers or how much power they’ll need to architect a (leasing) deal,” he said, “but we want to understand what application architecture they’re trying to accomplish.”

For many users, especially financial service companies engaged in high-speed electronic trading, locating facilities where Internet traffic is not congested is key.

“It’s about getting the right applications in the right cities,” said Smith.

Selling security technology that protects data centers from computer hackers has been a big business for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and other networking gear makers. While router makers such as Cisco and Juniper Networks (JNPR) build security into their products, a new wave of Internet firewall security technologies focus on new Web applications, such as social networking and Software-as-a-Service.

New software aims to reduce threats by filtering Internet traffic based on the type of application and device accessing the data.

Seattle-based F5 is the No. 1 maker of network controllers that speed up application and Web servers in data centers. It has expanded into data center security products.

Source:http://news.investors.com/article/612940/201205291823/apps-key-in-data-center-market.htm