Latest cybersecurity reporting from selected sources.

Acquisition Adds MSP-Friendly PAM, MFA and SSO to Existing Identity Security ToolsBarracuda acquired Evo Security to add privileged access management, multifactor authentication and single sign-on to its security platform, creating an MSP-focused identity resilience offering designed to simplify protection for small and midsize businesses while automating identity management.

Deal Would Help Cisco Expand Footprint Beyond Authentication, ITDR and ISPMCisco's cyber M&A dry spell could soon come to an end, with the company reportedly in talks to acquire New York-based non-human identity startup Astrix Security for between $250 million and $350 million. That would represent at least a 25% premium to the startup’s last valuation of around $200 million.

Keyless's Biometric Tech to Improve Privacy, Account Recovery and User ExperiencePing Identity will acquire Keyless to expand passwordless authentication to frontline workers who lack access to smartphones. The deal gives Ping deepfake-resistant, privacy-first biometrics that don't store user templates on servers, easing identity verification and account recovery.

Risk Scoring to Enable Real-Time Action by Imprivata on Suspicious Access AttemptsImprivata's acquisition of Verosint adds 150 real-time behavioral and environmental signals to its access management suite. CEO Fran Rosch says the combined risk scoring system will enable smarter authentication, especially for remote and third-party users.

Passkeys to Strengthen Low-Friction Verification, Integrate With Facial RecognitionUnico has acquired San Francisco-based OwnID to enhance its identity offerings and grow its U.S. customer base. The passkey startup's low-friction login solution complements Unico's facial recognition tools and supports broader use cases with streamlined user experiences.

Acquisition Boosts Standardized Consent Frameworks, Identity Data InteroperabilityProve’s acquisition of Philadelphia-based startup Portabl focuses on enhancing interoperability and reusable identity solutions. The move supports emerging industry standards, bridging gaps between identity verification, authentication, and payments for seamless customer experiences.

LexisNexis Combines AI-Driven Document Authentication With Its Fraud SolutionsTo counter AI-driven fraud, LexisNexis acquired IDVerse, a London-based startup focused on document authentication and regulatory compliance. This acquisition aims to seamlessly integrate advanced tools into LexisNexis' fraud and identity platforms, enhancing global operations.

PureID Passwordless Authentication Tool Will Boost ColorTokens MicrosegmentationColorTokens purchased PureID, expanding its zero trust framework with identity-based segmentation for cloud and hybrid environments. The acquisition focuses on securing cloud applications, microservices and APIs through advanced identity-based authentication.

Microsoft on Friday said a validation error in its source code allowed for Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) tokens to be forged by a malicious actor known as Storm-0558 using a Microsoft account (MSA) consumer signing key to breach two dozen organizations

With more staff working remotely, identity, authentication, and access have never been more important.