WEB filtering and email security provider Bloxx has been snapped up by a corporation in the United States in a deal which is believed to be worth several million pounds.

The software developed by Bloxx, which employs 55 across its headquarters in Livingston, West Lothian and an office in Newton, Massachusetts, is said to protect around 800 million devices around the world.

The bulk of the seven million people using its products are located across Europe and the United States.

Now Nasdaq-listed Akamai Technologies, based in Cambridge Massachusetts, is buying Bloxx for an undisclosed sum in order to enhance its security offering for businesses in the cloud computing market. Earlier this year Bloxx, founded in 1999, highlighted a growing demand for real-time filtering of content to make sure inappropriate or malicious material cannot be accessed.

Willie Tejada, senior vice president and general manager of the cloud networking division at Akamai, said: “Akamai’s traditional business has been about making the internet fast, reliable and secure for web sites and applications.

“As we look to the future, our strategy includes doing the same for the enterprise, helping to protect corporate end users from the exposure to unsuitable content, viruses, malware, and data leakage. By adding Bloxx’s SWG technologies to our solutions, coupled with the security intelligence that we obtain from our global platform, we believe we are well-positioned to help protect enterprises and their employees from a growing threat landscape.”

A spokesman added the Scottish facility will "be a key location as we retain the Bloxx talent necessary to execute on our strategy, and in support of their legacy business".

Akamai had revenue of close to $2 billion in 2014 and net income of $334 million. According to its most recent annual report it has spent in the region of $800m on acquisitions between 2012 and the end of 2014, buying seven businesses in the period.

Bloxx is privately funded with backers such as Archangels, Scottish Investment Bank and Braveheart Investment Group.

It received £800,000 earlier this year which it hoped to use to reshape its overseas sales functions having previously raised £500,000 in 2012. The deal is thought likely to provide a decent return for shareholders, many of whom have had a stake in the business for more than a decade, although none would comment on the exact size of the transaction.

Niki McKenzie, investment executive at Archangels, said: “We are proud that Archangels has been able to support Bloxx from an early stage to become the significant player that it is today, helping to protect email and Internet users across the globe.

“We are confident that the business will thrive as part of Akamai, whose world-leading credentials in content delivery are second to none.”

Kerry Sharp, head of the Scottish Investment Bank, said: “Since 2003, Scottish Enterprise has worked closely with Bloxx to provide an integrated package of support and investment to help the company realise its growth potential, both in the UK and internationally.

“We look forward to Bloxx continuing to flourish as part of the Akamai organisation post acquisition.”

Bloxx customers include the Law Society of Scotland, NHS Lothian, Aberdeenshire Council, Sabre Insurance, Yorkshire Building Society and Johnstons of Elgin.

Abbreviated accounts for Bloxx, covering the 12 months to March 31, 2014, show it had net assets on its balance sheet of more than £2.3m. But it had booked a retained loss of around £77,000 in the financial year. Those accounts note the US subsidiary, Bloxx Inc, made a £434,051 loss in the year.

Companies House documents show Christopher Saxe and Gerald Deck, both directors for Europe, Middle East and Africa for Akamai, have been appointed as directors at Bloxx. The papers also show the bulk of the existing management team and board at the Scottish company have resigned as directors.