Downtown-based data encryption company BitArmor has been acquired by Trustwave, a data security firm headquartered in Chicago.

Trustwave will maintain BitArmor's Pittsburgh office, which employs about 35 workers.

Trustwave chief marketing officer Michael Petitti said no personnel additions or changes were planned at this point, saying the company plans to keep things "at the status quo."

Eventually, the BitArmor name will be replaced with Trustwave, he said.

BitArmor's primary product is its Smart Tag technology, a cross-platform security system that protects data.

The two cyber-security companies began talks in 2009 to incorporate BitArmor's technology into the privately held Chicago firm, which employs about 450. As the talks progressed, acquisition began to make the most sense, said BitArmor CEO Patrick McGregor.

Mr. McGregor will remain with the company as a senior vice president.

Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Along with several individual investors, BitArmor has received funding from the Draper Triangle, Clearwater Capital, Innovation Works and Idea Foundry investment firms.

In 2008, the Pittsburgh Technology Council named BitArmor the region's best information technology firm.

First Published: January 13, 2010, 5:00 a.m.