It would seem that Intel's purchase of security company McAfee for more than $7bn caught a few people buy surprise and has a few people scratching their heads.
"Intel’s purchase of McAfee is a lot like a horseless-carriage vendor buying a leading supplier of buggy-whips," said Forrester analyst Andrew Jaquith.
There's even a joke doing the rounds on Twitter which goes like this:
Intel CEO: "We need antivirus, can someone buy me McAfee?" Few hours later: "Done." "Great, which version?" "Version ... ?"
So why the surprise? I guess because most people see Intel as purely a hardware firm, forgetting that the company has a long track record of working with software developers and to provide services that take advantage of the tech inside the silicon.
In fact, one of the longest running services to do just that is security. Intel has even worked with McAfee on its Active Management Technology, as well as other vendors, to help firms protect their tech assets, such as laptops, with features like remote tracking and disabling.
To my mind it makes perfect sense for the world's most powerful chip company to want to enhance the security of the computers that underpin our lives. To not do that would be strange indeed.
Cnet has a very good q&a with Renee J. James, senior vice president and general manager of the Software and Services Group at Intel.
She said: "When you think about things like power efficiency or performance or Internet connectivity as major technology areas where you have multiple investments, multiple products--security is like that. Security is applicable to our products in the data center, laptops, desktops, and any Atom-based devices--whether they're embedded, TVs, automotive, or phones and tablets. Security is a major purchase criteria and a concern. So, it spreads across the whole product line."
The Forrester analyst is negative because he feels Intel doesn't get software - which is odd when you think of all the software applications that take advantage of Intel's silicon precisely because the company does get software.
The BBC teases what I think is the key rationale:
Business editor Tim Weber writes: "Intel has recognised that online security is not just about a few hacked bank accounts, stolen company secrets or a lone PC kept virus-free.
"These days the internet reaches nearly everywhere: from smartphones to the power grid, your television to the transport system. Online threats now pose a systemic risk."
I agree 100%. Security is now so vital to technology that we can't afford to separate the software and hardware layers. We must integrate.








