Alameda, California-based Ascend Communications Inc has bought Morning Start Technologies Inc to boost the security capabilities of its MAX family of integrated WAN hubs, and its Pipeline remote access range. Ascend issued approximately 440,000 of its shares for Columbus, Ohio-based Morning Star, valuing the deal at about $24.5m. Morning Star’s flagship product is SecureConnect, which is pitched at network designers, and designed to provide a total solution for establishing a secure network. Components of SecureConnect include a firewall, encryption software, and an authentification server. Morning Star is to remain at its headquarters, and will become Ascend’s Network Security Business Unit. The unit will be headed by Dave Dawson, Morning Star’s ceo, who is staying on as general manager.
