Symantec Corp. is investing heavily to expand its security capabilities amid the fierce competition in the cybersecurity market. The company last week acquired browser isolation provider Fireglass Ltd. and returned to the headlines today after picking up Skycure Ltd., another breach prevention startup that focuses on mobile devices.

Skycure offers an artificial intelligence-powered platform aimed at helping companies protect employee endpoints from attack. The first component is a mobile client that can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play, which avoids the complex installation procedures often involved in setting up traditional security tools. The app sends behavior data from its host handset to a cloud-based analytics engine that checks the activity for signs of a breach.

According to Skycure, the platform goes about it by referencing usage logs against threat intelligence aggregated from the other devices under its protection. The results are then sent back to the app, which can look for threats even when a handset isn’t connected to the web.

Any potential issues detected by its algorithms are displayed in an online administrative console where they’re prioritized based on severity. The client app automatically blocks the installation of malicious apps and other common risks, while more sophisticated threats are brought to the attention of administrators through an alerting mechanism. They can use the dashboard to prevent a compromised device from accessing company systems until the issue is resolved. 

Symantec indicated that Skycure’s software will be bundled with its flagship Norton Antivirus and the enterprise-oriented Endpoint Protection suite. The company plans to make the technology available to customers “soon” after the transaction’s expected completion later this quarter.

That’s the same time frame in which Symantec hopes to wrap up the acquisition of Fireglass.  The deal buys Symantec the startup’s namesake sandboxing platform, which can open web pages and documents in an isolated environment to shield users from potential threats. 

Symantec didn’t divulge the value of the deals. However, data from Crunchbase shows that Skycure and Fireglass have both raised over $20 million from investors, which would indicate that what Symantec paid was likely at least in the eight-figure range.

Image: Skycure