First GeCAD and Giant, now Sybari

Categories: spam, virus, malware, M&A.

Today, Microsoft announced that it is acquiring Sybari. This comes hard on the heels of their buying Giant, and GeCAD.

Microsoft is clearly on a spending spree to bring in-house anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-spam capabilities. How will this play with their "ecosystem" partners? I spy FUD ahead.

It's an interesting move, nevertheless. Sybari Antigen seems to be a product line that's well respected by those who's opinions matter most: it's customers.

I expect more consolidation during 2005, especially in the anti-spam market. There are too many private anti-spam vendors, some of whom are becoming insufficiently capitalized: either in terms of VC funds, or in terms of intellectual property.