Insight Venture secures Resolve; ransomware shows cybersecurity need

Insight Venture Partners has purchased Resolve Systems LLC, a security and information technology company, for an undisclosed amount. Ransomware attacks have plagued companies and individuals in recent weeks, and private equity firms have continued to double down on network security companies.

Resolve Systems provides real-time incident response and automation tools for a variety of companies’ IT and network operations. The Irvine, California-based target offers resolution collaboration capabilities, actionable dashboards, and automation process guidance. The company has strategic partnerships with Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT), CA Technologies and International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE: IBM). Resolve Systems was founded in 1999 and was previously known as gen-E Consulting before changing its name in September 2014. The company, previously owned by Solis Capital Partners, conducts business in the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

"In today's increasingly complex and connected world, it's more important than ever to have the right solutions in place for incident response, especially when it comes to securing the enterprise," states Insight Venture managing director Mike Triplett.

Insight Venture is a New York-based private equity and venture capital firm founded in 1995. The firm has raised more than $13 billion and invested in more than 280 software and internet companies worldwide. Insight Venture acquired two intellectual property software companies, Anaqua Inc. and SGA2 Sas, from Beacon equity Partners in July 2013. Some of the firm’s other portfolio companies include: Airborne Entertainment, Alibaba, Chegg.com, HootSuite, KarmaLoop.com, Wix.com and Zumba Fitness. Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP served as legal adviser to Insight Venture.

M&A in the technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) sector will soar over the next 12 months, as companies in a wide array of industries seek to increase protection against cyberattacks, according to Mergers & Acquisitions’ Mid-Market Pulse (MMP). Recent deals include: LLR Partners’ acquisition of cybersecurity software provider BluVector from Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE: NOC); Coalfire’s, backed by two private equity firms, purchase of Veris Group; CA Technologies’ (Nasdaq: CA) buying of Veracode for $614 million in cash; Tenable Network Security Inc.'s purchase of IT security company FlawCheck Private Registry; and Accenture’s (NYSE: CAN) buying of Redcore, an identity and access management provider for computer networks.