A deep packet inspection technology developer today announced that it’s getting $10.8 million to develop new software that will search Internet content for problems such viruses, spam, intrusions.

 

The funding will accelerate the international expansion of Paris-based Qosmos (News - Alert), officials with the company say, and hasten the development of its product: software modules and appliances that “detect and extract business-critical information from IP networks in real time.”

 

Thibaut Bechetoille, chief executive officer of Qosmos, said investment in his company from international businesses such as Sofinnova Partners, Alven Capital and GfK AG underscores the industry’s growth potential.

 

“This financing allows us to invest in the people and technologies that strengthen our position as a leader in the European market, as well as boost our presence worldwide,” Bechetoille said.

 

Deep packet inspection is a form of computer network packet filtering that examines the data of a packet as it passes an inspection point, to decide if the packet can pass or if it needs to be routed to a different destination, or for the purpose of collecting statistical information. The technology offers advanced security functions as well as internet data mining, eavesdropping and censorship – abilities that strike fear in some so-called “open Internet” advocates.

 

Qosmos officials say their so-called “ixDPI” technology extends the capabilities of traditional deep packet inspection and enables customers to monitor the information traveling over networks. Company officials say Qosmos technology has already been deployed by network service providers, systems integrators and software vendors who have created a wide variety of value-added services and applications, such as digital home audience measurement, carriers’ services usage analysis, customer experience management, flow monitoring and optimization, content-based billing and data leakage prevention.

 

Alain Rodermann, a partner at Sofinnova Partners, a venture capital firm that focuses on technology, said there’s a strong future in deep packet inspection.

 

“There is increasing importance in issues related to IP network monitoring and surveillance, and this fundraising deal will allow Qosmos to corner a large share of the Deep Packet Inspection market,” Rodermann said.