In Brief Cisco Systems is to acquire security firm Okena in a $154 million all-stock deal.

Okena's technology takes a behaviour-based approach to blocking malicious activity on servers or desktops. The technology is positioned as a complementary addition to traditional signature-based anti-virus software.

According to Cisco, Okena's software aggregates and extends multiple endpoint security functions - Host-based Intrusion Detection (HIDS), distributed firewall, malicious code protection and operating system lockdown - in a single package.

The acquisition is expected to close in Q3, when Okena's 52 employees will join Cisco's Virtual Private Network and Security Business Unit

Cisco expects to take a one-time charge of less than $0.01 per share in acquiring Okena. ®