BlackBerry/Cylance to Demo ‘Mobile Threat Defense’ Product at CES, Says CEO

BlackBerry continues to run “ahead” of schedule toward integrating Cylance into the company’s portfolio of products and services, said CEO John Chen on a fiscal Q3 call Friday. BlackBerry bought Cylance, a specialist in artificial intelligence-based cybersecurity, for $1.4 billion, the largest acquisition in its history (see 1811160024). BlackBerry/Cylance is “achieving the product-development synergies we discussed when we announced the acquisition,” said Chen. It will demonstrate a “mobile threat defense” product at CES, plus solutions combining Cylance cybersecurity and BlackBerry’s QNX automotive operating system, he said. BlackBerry/Cylance “meets the needs of a large addressable market of both fixed and mobile end-points,” he said. “We’re now ready to increase sales and marketing synergies.” With the “efficiency gains so far” in the BlackBerry/Cylance integration, “we remain comfortable that Cylance will be accretive in fiscal 2021,” said Chen. BlackBerry shares closed 12.4 percent higher Friday at $6.53.