Amazon Web Services has acquired Wickr, an end-to-end encrypted communication platform, the company announced Friday. Financials of the deal were not disclosed.
Wickr’s encrypted messaging tools are used by governmental entities, including the Department of Defense. The 10-year-old company bills itself as “the most secure” communication platform.
Wickr customers use its service for increased safety across messaging, voice and video calling, file sharing, and collaboration technologies.
The software’s end-to-end encryption means only the people on either side of the conversation can see the messages, making it popular for those concerned with security. This could include journalists and whistleblowers, Motherboard noted.
AWS, which is offering Wickr services immediately, said the need for a security-focused communication service has increased during the pandemic, with employees working remotely in scattered locations.
The acquisition could signal that AWS is trying to push itself into messaging, TechCrunch reported. AWS currently offers Chime, an enterprise messaging app similar to Slack and Microsoft Teams.
AWS says it works with more than 6,500 government agencies. The cloud arm of Amazon is still involved in a legal battle over the controversial $10 billion JEDI cloud computing contract.
The tech giant’s acquisition of Wickr has raised some concerns about what it means for already existing customers drawn to its security. AWS’s blog post on the announcement said existing users can continue to use the service as usual.
from GeekWire https://www.geekwire.com/2021/amazon-web-servies-acquires-end-end-encryption-messaging-software-startup-wickr/