$IONQ agreed to acquire cybersecurity firm Elisity in an all-stock deal worth up to $1.3B, including up to $150M in performance-based payments. Elisity’s platform helps prevent hackers and ransomware from spreading across company networks.

$IONQ is acquiring cybersecurity firm Elisity for ~$1.3B deal expanding beyond quantum computing into enterprise security. Elisity controls which devices can communicate across corporate networks giving IonQ an identity and security layer alongside its existing quantum networking capabilities. What makes this really interesting is IonQ could start generating security revenue long before quantum computers reach mass adoption while positioning itself for shift toward post quantum security.

$IONQ is raising $2B at $40 per share as it continues building out its quantum computing platform. That would bring its cash to ~$4B giving IonQ more firepower to expand beyond quantum computers into manufacturing, networking and security through acquisitions like SkyWater and Elisity.