BENGALURU — U.S.-based networking solutions giant Netgear has acquired Exium, a Bengaluru-based cybersecurity startup, to bolster its service offerings for managed service providers (MSPs) and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Exium, which specializes in secure access service edge (SASE) solutions, will now operate under the Netgear umbrella. The startup’s CEO Farooq Khan will continue to lead the Exium team and will also join Netgear’s leadership.
Speaking to The Economic Times, Pramod Badjate, President and General Manager of Netgear’s Business Products division, said, “Exium is a small team based in Bengaluru. The purpose of acquiring this startup was to have integrated solutions for small and medium enterprises.”
Exium’s SASE platform is already deployed in several educational institutions across India and is aimed at improving enterprise-grade security solutions. The acquisition strengthens Netgear’s push to provide comprehensive networking and security solutions to SMEs—particularly those without in-house IT departments.
Part of a Larger India Strategy
This acquisition marks Netgear’s second India-based startup purchase in recent months. In May, the company also acquired Chennai-based VAAG Systems to enhance its in-house software development capabilities. The integration of VAAG’s R&D team is now fueling the growth of Netgear’s Chennai development centre.
As part of its India expansion, Badjate confirmed that Netgear plans to hire over 100 engineers in the next 12–18 months. These new roles will span across both the Chennai center and the newly acquired Exium team in Bengaluru. “We may also broaden our footprint in Bengaluru,” he added.
Netgear’s long-term vision is to become a one-stop technology partner for SMEs, offering seamless Wi-Fi, routing, and integrated security services. “If you’re a small or medium enterprise with less than 500 employees and no IT department, you need Wi-Fi and routing—but that’s not enough; you also need security,” Badjate noted.
Embracing AI and Cloud for the Next Phase
Netgear is increasingly leveraging AI and cloud technologies to simplify and automate tasks such as network setup, security management, and troubleshooting. This is expected to help SMEs scale more efficiently and improve operational productivity.
“With AI, there will be a huge improvement in productivity,” said Badjate. “A lot of the grunt work will be automated, but creative work on how to use AI will be around for a long time. Software engineers will not be relevant in the same way as they were before.”
Financials and Manufacturing Ambitions
Founded in 1996, Netgear is a Nasdaq-listed company currently valued at $868 million. In Q1 FY25, it reported net revenue of $162.1 million, reflecting a 1.5% decline year-on-year.
Netgear had previously indicated its interest in setting up manufacturing operations in India, aligning with the government’s Make in India initiative. While a concrete timeline hasn’t been announced, Badjate stated that updates on this front could be expected in the coming months.
With this acquisition, Netgear is doubling down on its commitment to India as a strategic market and development hub, while addressing the growing security needs of SMEs worldwide.
