Intel Corp has sold its Network Systems virtual private networking business to Simple Access Inc, which has immediately renamed itself Shiva Corp, the name of the VPN security business that Intel acquired for $182m back in October 1998.

Newton, Massachusetts-based Shiva began life as Simple Access in December 2001 and will combine the Intel VPN gateway products with its own broadband security technologies, as well as the firewall, VPN and secure socket layer products that it acquired along with Galea Secured Networks in July 2002.

Shiva is the third business that Santa Clara, California-based Intel has spun off since August, following high-speed content processing vendor Tarari Inc and desktop systems management software business LANDesk. As with the previous spin-offs, financial details have not been disclosed, but it has been confirmed that Intel will retain an interest in the new company through its Intel Capital investment arm.

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