Editor’s Note: Related tickers: Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO), Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ), International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM), Sourcefire, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIRE), Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT)
If a software giant like Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is willing to pony up $2.7 billion for Sourcefire, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIRE), the Columbia cyber security firm must be doing something right. Sourcefire, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIRE) reported $223 million in revenue last year and a profit of $5 million. On Tuesday, San Jose, Calif.-based Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) agreed to pay $76 for each outstanding share of Sourcefire, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIRE), a 29 percent premium off Sourcefire, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIRE)’s closing price of $59.08 Monday. In other words, Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) agreed to pay about $17 more per share than each was actually worth at the time. That begs the question: What does 12-year-old Sourcefire, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIRE) have that is so valuable?
Liqvid ties up with Hewlett-Packard (Business-Standard)
e-learning solutions firm Liqvid today said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) to deliver its bilingual English Edge software through the Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) Lab-in-Box network. As part of this partnership, Liqvid will be responsible for providing content, conduct train-the-trainer programmes, and also extend its offering to all future Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) Lab-in-Box projects, it said in a release. Liqvid will be promoting Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) LIFE e-learning programme across its customer base and the programme will be made available at all of its study centres, it added.
IBM announces launch of vulnerability scanner and manager (SCMagazineUK)
A new solution which identify key vulnerabilities in real-time across a network has been launched this week by International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM). Named the QRadar Vulnerability Manager, International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) said that it helps identify, sort, contextualise and prioritise network vulnerabilities into a single view. According to the company, it can automatically scan the network and perform the analysis, with results aggregated alongside the latest X-Force threat intelligence alerts and incident reports from the National Vulnerability Database. Also added in this release is an embedded, PCI-certified scanner which can be scheduled to run periodically or triggered based on network events.
Wedbush Increases Cisco Systems Price Target to $27.00 (CSCO) (Zolmax)
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) had its target price lifted by Wedbush from $26.00 to $27.00 in a research note released on Wednesday morning, Stock Ratings Network.com reports. A number of other firms have also recently commented on Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO). Analysts at FBN Securities raised their price target on shares of Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) from $27.00 to $29.00 in a research note to investors on Wednesday. Separately, analysts at TheStreet reiterated a buy rating on shares of Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) in a research note to investors on Wednesday. Finally, analysts at Wunderlich raised their price target on shares of Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) from $26.00 to $28.00 in a research note to investors on Wednesday. They now have a buy rating on the stock.
Choosing the right series of Cisco data center switches for the cloud (TechTarget)
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) separated its data center and campus switch product lines five years ago, but even with the distinction between the Nexus data center and Catalyst campus switch series, cloud providers still have many options to choose from in their network cores. Cloud data centers have unique requirements, and selecting the right hardware as the backbone is critical for guaranteeing agile and scalable cloud services. Data center switches can enable high-speed access to applications and services that customers expect, but different cloud providers will have unique switching needs.
HP to try a $99 tablet again? (CNET)
Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) unintentionally pioneered the ultra-cheap tablet when it fire-sold the TouchPad for $99 back in the summer of 2011. HP may be ready to do it again. Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) will launch a $99 tablet in cooperation with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) in time for the back-to-school shopping, Digitimes reported Wednesday, citing Asia-based suppliers. …That tablet is now selling for a mere $139.99. So, with a modest redesign, Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) could theoretically get a similar device down to $99.99 — only $40 less than the Slate 7. While Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) said it does not comment on rumors, a spokeswoman did say this: “We look forward to expanding our tablet portfolio later this year with additional technologies, sizes, and operating systems to meet our customers’ needs.”
Hewlett-Packard Company : HP Awarded $166 Million Contract for Medicare Claims Processing (4-Traders)
Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) Enterprise Services today announced it has been awarded a task order by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to host and improve efficiency of the Medicare Part A and Part B fee-for-service (FFS) claims processes nationwide. This task order, valued at $166 million, was awarded under the new CMS Virtual Data Center-Prime (VDCP) indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract. …Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) is supporting the agency’s goals of consolidating IT contract vehicles to lower costs, enhance interoperability among data centers, implement standard processes and procedures for data center oversight, and ensure compliance with CMS architecture standards for all data center operations.
IBM Mainframes Nipped, Tucked For Cloud Age (InformationWeek)
Statements about the death of the mainframe have been made for at least a couple of decades. But International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) keeps proving that with new technology and timely facelifts aimed at the latest market demands, mainframes can stay relevant. The latest wrinkle remover for the System Z mainframe, spotlighted with this week’s release of the International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) zEnterprise BC12 (Business Class) entry-level mainframe, is extended support for growing use cases including big data analytics and cloud computing. The BC12 will start shipping in September, about one year after the release of vendor’s latest Enterprise Class machine, the zEnterprise EC12.
IBM Mainframes Nipped, Tucked For Cloud Age (InformationWeek)
Statements about the death of the mainframe have been made for at least a couple of decades. But International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) keeps proving that with new technology and timely facelifts aimed at the latest market demands, mainframes can stay relevant. The latest wrinkle remover for the System Z mainframe, spotlighted with this week’s release of the International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) zEnterprise BC12 (Business Class) entry-level mainframe, is extended support for growing use cases including big data analytics and cloud computing. The BC12 will start shipping in September, about one year after the release of vendor’s latest Enterprise Class machine, the zEnterprise EC12.
