French optical transport vendor Ekinops continued its secure access service edge (SASE) pivot with the acquisition of cybersecurity firm Chimere.

The Aix, France-headquartered business specializes in zero-trust network access (ZTNA) solutions, as offered through a software-as-a-service (SaaS) subscription model for hybrid and on-premises environments. Ekinops claimed the acquisition rounds out its SASE portfolio while making it the sole European player in the select single-vendor SASE market.

Chimere's acquisition builds on last year's purchase of security service edge (SSE) vendor Olfeo, as well as the appointment last month of Lionel Chmilewsky as Ekinops' new CEO. Chmilewsky, who joined from cybersecurity firm TrustBuilder, was hired to lead the firm’s SASE charge, as unveiled last year in its so-called "Bridge" strategy pivot.

Ekinops continues to sell the optical services it's provided since its founding in 2003, where it has focused on the metro optical transport segment alongside wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) gear.

"We're especially enthusiastic about this acquisition, which speeds up the Ekinops group ability to reach its ambitions to become the European SASE leader," Chmilewsky noted in a statement on the Chimere deal. "By combining our technologies and our business assets, we can attack new, high growth markets with a truly differentiated offer. Chimere has already highly satisfied customers, and Ekinops is looking forward to offering this Chimere ZTNA solution to its own customers and prospects.”

"The Ekinops-Chimere combination delivers a fully trusted European cybersecurity portfolio, a true benefit for customers in the region," Chimere CEO Guillaume-Alexandre Chaizy added. "We are very excited to join the Ekinops team and take our part in building a European SASE leader that can serve the world together.”

Financial details behind the deal were not disclosed in the announcement.