Fortinet, a major player in the cybersecurity industry, has acquired data security startup Next DLP for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition, set to be finalized legally by next weekend, aims to strengthen Fortinet’s Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) platform.
Next DLP, a pioneer in the data loss prevention (DLP) sector, has drawn significant interest from Fortinet’s senior executives. The company specializes in preventing data exfiltration and detecting internal threats that could compromise business operations over time.
In addition to its core DLP services, Next DLP offers a technology called Reveal Platform, which integrates with generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Hugging Face, Claude, Bard, and Gemini. This technology will now be incorporated into Fortinet’s Unified SASE platform, which recently also integrated another cybersecurity solution, Lacework.
Market analysts see this acquisition as a strategic move by Fortinet to consolidate its position in the industry. By acquiring rapidly growing smaller companies, Fortinet not only expands its customer base but also enhances its global reach and product offerings. This trend was similarly observed with the acquisition of Lacework.
As Fortinet’s revenue has significantly exceeded its annual forecast—reaching $1.43 billion with an 11% growth this year—more acquisitions are anticipated. Despite a slight decline in product revenue noted in SEC filings, demand for Fortinet’s secure networking tools, unified secure access service edge, and AI-driven security operations remains strong. The recent appointment of Joe Sarno as Executive Vice President of International Sales is expected to bolster this momentum further.
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