Dell Technologies is working closely with Morgan Stanley in a bid to sell off the RSA Security business unit, according to PE Hub. The PC giant inherited RSA through the EMC acquisition.
Rumors about Dell potentially selling RSA have swirled off-and-on multiple times in 2019, and in previous years. But valuation figures have been all over the map -- ranging from $1 billion to $3 billion, though some estimates include the buyer taking on RSA's debt, and some estimates fail to mention the debt considerations. Neither company has commented about the rumors.
RSA's portfolio now includes identity and access management (IAM), integrated risk management, fraud prevention, threat detection and response. The company's SIEM (security information and event management) has a noteworthy installed base among MSSPs (managed security services providers) and end-customers. Still, RSA has at times struggled to keep best with the shift toward mobile- and cloud-driven security.
RSA also runs the popular RSA Conference, which is more of a global cybersecurity industry event rather than a vendor-centric gathering.
Dell Security: What's In, What's Out?
Dell apparently has spent considerable time rethinking its security portfolio. Amid the potential sale of RSA, the PC giant may acquire all of Secureworks, a Top 200 MSSP for 2019, reports suggest. Dell already owns about 86 percent of Secureworks. And the MSSP has been working more closely with another Dell-owned property: VMware's Carbon Black division.
