Google took another leap forward, adding security to its hosted application offerings by entering into a deal to acquire messaging security firm Postini.

Google's hosted applications already include Gmail, Calendar, Talk, Docs and Spreadsheets, and Personal Start Page. According to the company, the applications are used by more than 100,000 businesses. With the acquisition of Postini, whose solutions are used by 35,000 businesses and 10 million users worldwide, Google gains email, IM, and Web security along with message archiving and encryption technologies, including policy-based mail delivery technology that can ensure messages between specific endpoints are delivered using Transport Layer Security (TLS).

Postini's technology will cost Google $625 million in cash, with the deal expected to close by the end of the third quarter this year. Upon completion of the transaction, Postini will become a wholly owned subsidiary and Google said it will continue to invest in the technology.

In related news, Postini recently entered into a deal with Iomega in which Iomega will bundle Postini solutions with its OfficeScreen managed network services offerings, which include Juniper Networks' firewall, an IPsec-based VPN, and an SSL VPN. Iomega is now marketing OfficeScreen through IT product distribution giant Tech Data, which gives Iomega and Postini access to Tech Data's 90,000 customers in over 100 countries.