Citrix to buy MDM player Zenprise

Virtualisation giant Citrix is to acquire mobile device management player Zenprise for an undisclosed sum.

Silicon Valley-based Zenprise was founded in 2003 and specialises in on-premise and cloud products that help business users protect the data stored on mobile devices.

Citrix said it plans to use Zenprise's technology to enhance its existing mobile management product suite, which including its CloudGateway and Me@Work offerings.

The company claims the acquisition means it will become the first company to offer mobile device, application and data management to enterprise users via a single product line.

The deal is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close during the first quarter of 2013.

In a blog post, Amit Pandey, president and CEO of Zenprise, said joining forces means both firms will be well-placed to help end users cope with the demands of BYOD.

"Users want mobile freedom to choose their own smartphones and tablets and use the productivity and business apps that help them get their jobs done," he wrote.

"But in a world where users can lose or leak sensitive corporate data through device loss or by synchronising content to a tapestry of cloud-connected endpoints, the need for mobile governance and security is paramount.

"Both Citrix and Zenprise see it as our job to reconcile these two worlds, giving IT the tools to protect the organisation," he added.

Sumit Dhawan, vice president and general manager of mobile solutions at Citrix, said Zenprise will be a good fit for its business.

"Zenprise was a clear choice for Citrix, with its...experienced team, a history of innovation, and a footprint on more than one million devices," said Dhawan.

"With a complete Citrix enterprise mobility solution, customers have all the necessary pieces to manage and secure mobile apps, content and devices."