AuthenTec Acquires PeerSec Networks to Strengthen Leadership in Embedded Security

Combination of AuthenTec QuickSec™ and PeerSec Matrix™ Product Lines Creates Comprehensive Embedded Secure Networking Portfolio

MELBOURNE, Fla., December 6, 2011 – AuthenTec (NASDAQ: AUTH), a leading provider of mobile and network security, today announced that it has acquired Seattle-based PeerSec Networks, an innovative  provider of networking security solutions.  AuthenTec has acquired all of the assets of PeerSec Networks, including all products and intellectual property.  The PeerSec Networks team and complete product portfolio, which includes the Matrix™ family of industry-leading device security solutions, will become part of AuthenTec’s Embedded Security business segment.  Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

 “We are very pleased to add the PeerSec team, which has extensive experience with embedded development and device management expertise, and their MatrixSSL™, MatrixSSH™ and MatrixDTLS™ products to AuthenTec.  This is a strategic acquisition which adds key secure networking technology that complements our solutions around secure networking by allowing us to provide optimized software toolkits for all the protocols that our hardware IP packet engines support,” said Dr. Simon Blake-Wilson, Vice President of AuthenTec’s Embedded Security Solutions.  “There are tremendous growth opportunities across multiple markets, driven by the need for secure communication.  With this strategic acquisition we not only expand our portfolio but are also able to accelerate our product roadmap activities and address new markets.”  

“We are excited to join the AuthenTec Embedded Security team and build on the market success of our Matrix family of software products,” said PeerSec Networks CEO J Harper.  “As part of AuthenTec, we’ll be able to leverage their market leading position, channels to top tier customers and synergistic product roadmap to accelerate the momentum of our complementary products.” 

The addition of PeerSec Networks helps complement AuthenTec’s existing Embedded Security offering for mobile, multifunction printers and smart grid, and adds new opportunities in the machine-to-machine (M2M) market.  M2M technology allows wired and wireless systems to communicate device to device, and is commonly applied in areas such as industrial automation, medical and telemetry.

PeerSec Networks also adds to AuthenTec’s strong technology and intellectual property portfolio by supporting secure networking standards including Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS).  The combined AuthenTec-PeerSec Network security offering is a comprehensive suite of secure networking toolkits spanning DTLS, IPsec, MACsec, SSH, SSL, TLS, and WPA security protocols.  

PeerSec Networks was founded in 2002 and provides solutions that are currently shipping in networking equipment, trusted computing platforms, secure VoIP phones, Wi-Fi devices and wireless printers.  PeerSec Networks’ customers include some of the leading semiconductor, network and printer companies such as Gemalto, Motorola Solutions, Neopost, and Toshiba among others.

About AuthenTec

AuthenTec is the world’s #1 provider of fingerprint sensors, identity management software, and embedded security solutions.  AuthenTec security and identity management solutions address enterprise, consumer and government applications for a growing base of top tier global customers. Already shipped on hundreds of millions of devices, the Company's smart sensor products, software and embedded security solutions are used virtually everywhere, from the PC on your desk to the mobile device in your hand to the server in the cloud.  AuthenTec offers developers and users secure and convenient ways to manage today's rapidly evolving digital identities and security needs.  For more information, visit www.authentec.com  or follow us at twitter.com/authentecnews.