Cisco Systems has agreed to buy video surveillance vendor SyPixx Networks. The deal is worth an estimated $51 million in cash and stock. SyPixx, who provide software and hardware that sends converts footage from traditional analog video surveillance systems into digital form, provides products which include analog to digital video camera encoders, digital to analog video monitor decoders, analog video transmission equipment. Cisco, who are looking to expand their efforts with secure voice, video and data over an IP network, will find this very beneficial.

"Through the acquisition of SyPixx, Cisco will begin to show how the network can also be a platform for enhancing the safety of people and the protection of physical assets," Dgroup vice president Marthin De Beer said.