Akamai has purchased Inverse to better identify IoT and mobile devices such as internet-enabled HVAC, lighting systems, medical equipment, robotics and printers in enterprise environments. The intelligence edge platform provider said Inverse’s robust data repository and algorithms can provide organizations with a deep understanding of the expected network behaviors of IoT and mobile devices. The deal should enhance Akamai’s enterprise security offerings and expand its portfolio of zero trust and secure access service edge tools for IoT. “Enterprises already have thousands of ‘things’ connecting to their networks and that number is only expected to grow, making securing the enterprise ever more difficult,” Robert Blumofe, Akamai’s executive vice president of platform and general manager of the enterprise division, said in a statement. “Gaining context and visibility into the device landscape, with what the devices are communicating and their typical behavior is critical.”