Cisco Systems agreed to acquire Actona Technologies, a start-up developing software that facilitates data management across geographically distributed offices, for approximately $82 million in cash. The Actona ActaStor file caching solution enables storage consolidation across the WAN.
The file caching system utilizes sophisticated caching, compression and network optimization techniques to ensure efficient operation of standard file system protocols (Windows/CIFS, Unix/NFS) over low bandwidth, high latency network links.
Cisco currently offers a Full Service Branch solution that combines WAN connectivity with advanced network security, IP voice communications, and business application and video acceleration services. Cisco said Actona’s technology will augment that offering by expanding the functionality of Cisco’s branch office access router portfolio with intelligent network services that enable WAN-optimized file transfer and access. In addition, Actona will extend Cisco’s solutions for Data Center Storage Consolidation to the branch office. http://www.cisco.com
- Actona was founded in 2000 and has 48 employees in Los Gatos, California and Haifa, Israel. The company is headed by Randy L. Ditzler, who previously was a founder, CEO and Director of Telegis Networks, a global provider of hosting and managed services. Actona was founded by Dr. Ilan Kessler (previously VP of Technology at Qualcomm and co-manager of Qualcomm Israel), Dr. Israel Ben-Shaul (previously a faculty member at the Technion), and Prof. Israel Cidon (a professor of Electrical Engineering at the Technion).
- In March 2004, Actona Technologies announced $10 million in Series C funding, bringing its total equity investment to $23 million. The most recent round of funding was led by Mayfield and included participation from current investors Sequoia Capital, Evergreen Partners, and the Fantine Group.