Microsoft Corporation acquired Alacris Inc., a transaction announced in September 2005.
Alacris Inc. operates in Security Technology Unit (identity and access management). Alacris provided certificate-management and identity-assurance software, specifically digital-certificate and smart-card life-cycle management solutions for deploying and maintaining smart-card-based strong-authentication infrastructure. Microsoft acquired it to strengthen its identity and access management strategy.
To enhance Microsoft's identity and access management strategy with technology that simplifies smart-card life-cycle management, addressing enterprise challenges in provisioning smart-card hardware, deploying digital certificates, managing certificate revocation and auditing activity.
Customers have told us that smart cards are becoming an increasingly important part of their authentication and authorization strategy.Mike Nash, Corporate Vice President, Security Technology Unit, Microsoft
Advisory firms were not disclosed for this transaction.