Symantec announced a deal on Tuesday to acquire instant messaging security specialist IMlogic. Financial terms of the acquisition, which is subject to customary regulatory approvals, were not disclosed.

As the use of IM in corporations grows so too is the the number of security attacks targeting Instant messaging networks. Symantec said its deal to acquire IMlogic, an existing technology partner, would allow it to build products and services that integrate IM security and archiving tools into its existing messaging security and compliance portfolio. The deal also puts Symantec in a better position to provide security tools for VoIP networks.

Enrique Salem, a SVP at Symantec, commented: "With the best-of-breed instant messaging management and compliance software from IMlogic, Symantec will be the first and only vendor to offer a complete security and archiving solution to help customers manage all their messaging requirements."

IMlogic supports a wide range of IM clients and technologies. For example, Microsoft Office Live Communications Server uses IMlogic's technology. It's unclear how Symantec's acquisition will affect this relationship or its technology partnerships with other Symantec rivals such as McAfee.

Akonix, IMlogic's chief rival in the IM security market, welcomed the deal and said the IMlogic acquisition "signals the start of a period of demand for IM security that will dwarf the growth rates we saw for email security or firewalls". ®