Arm eyes security firm with focus on Internet of Things, report says

The chip designer is reportedly in talks to spend about $80 million on Israel-based Sansa Security, which would help it compete in the growing market for connected devices.

by Don Reisinger - CNET, Jun. 02, 2015 – 

Chip designer Arm could be looking to acquire a mobile security company that specializes in the burgeoning market for the Internet of Things -- which puts computer chips in everday objects -- according to a new report.

Arm is in talks to acquire Israel-based Sansa Security for between $75 million and $85 million, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people who claim to have knowledge of the negotiations. The deal could close as early as this month, according to the report.

Arm designs chips that are found in 95 percent of the world's smartphones. Sansa provides a security platform for Internet of Things (or IoT) devices, or products that have historically been "dumb," like refrigerators or washers and dryers, but with help from the Web, can connect to the Internet and become "smart." Although the companies seem incompatible, a core component in Sansa's security platform is a "silicon" layer that incorporates security features in the chip running in IoT devices, making it a potentially viable option for Arm as it looks to expand its business.

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