Securent markets a distributed policy platform that is scalable and enables enterprises to administer, enforce, and audit access to data, communications, and applications. The software operates in applications in heterogeneous IT environments.

"As enterprises shift to service-oriented architectures and adopt technologies such as Unified Communications and Web 2.0-based collaboration, there is a rising need for control over access to distribute enterprise resources," said Don Proctor, senior VP, Cisco Collaboration Group, in a statement.

When the acquisition -- Cisco's 125th -- closes as expected in Cisco's second fiscal year quarter, Securent will move into Proctor's unit.

Headquartered in Mountain View Calif., Securent also operates a development unit in Hyderabad, India. The company has 57 employees.

Securent's Entitlement Management Solution is used by IT managers to handle entitlement privileges in applications and databases. Customers can protect applications and data across a multiplicity of vendors, platforms, and operating systems while enabling easy access to content.

"Securent's software offers enterprises a single point of control to define and manage entitlements across applications and data," said Proctor. "This capability is well aligned with Cisco's Service-Oriented Network Architecture enabling policy decisions to be delivered as a network service across multiple applications platforms and delivery models."