Symantec Corp. announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire security vendor Sygate Technologies Inc. for an undisclosed sum.

The planned purchase will give Cupertino, Calif.- based Symantec access to a range of products that are designed to help companies enforce security policies on network endpoint devices such as PCs and mobile systems.

Privately held Sygate employs about 300 people worldwide and has about 400 customers.

The purchase of Fremont, Calif.-based Sygate will allow Symantec to bolster its presence in the growing market for endpoint security products, said Brian Foster, senior director of product management at Symantec.

In December, Symantec announced plans to acquire Platform Logic Inc., another vendor of products for securing client devices such as PCs and notebooks.

"With this we will be able to offer real-time endpoint security and access control" products, Foster said.

Sygate"s On-Demand Agent software will also allow Symantec to offer products that are designed to protect corporate networks against unmanaged and non-company-owned client devices, Foster said.

Upon close of the deal, Symantec"s customers will be able to license and deploy Sygate"s Network Access Control agent on top of their existing client-side security products from Symantec. Eventually, the goal is to integrate Sygate"s products with Symantec"s client security suite, Foster said.

Symantec"s acquisition is also good for users of Sygate"s products, said John DeSantis, president and CEO of Sygate.

"They should be delighted now as opposed to relying on a small, privately held company" for end-point security, DeSantis said.

Symantec"s planned purchase addresses the growing need for companies to protect not just their network perimeters, but also the devices connecting to them.

Cisco Systems Inc. has been an active player in this market with its Network Admission Control (NAC) program, under which it works with several vendors to deliver products for enforcing security policies on network endpoints.

"This shows that Symantec is taking the Cisco NAC threat seriously and is bolstering its own offering there," said Pete Lindstrom, an analyst at Spire Security LLC in Malvern, Pa.

"The combination of Sygate, Platform Logic and Symantec"s own products provide a set of great technologies for the endpoint," he said. "However, Symantec"s history in converting good smaller companies into a strong revenue stream is mediocre at best," he added.