Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Verint [Member]	Ulticom Inc [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Verint [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]	Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member]	Parent [Member]	Parent [Member] Verint [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Verint [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Ulticom Inc [Member]
Balance, value at beginning of period at Jan. 31, 2009	$ 763,187			$ 20,421	$ (1,219)	$ 1,945,273		$ (1,303,281)	$ 10,302	$ (3,028)	$ (15,210)	$ 653,258		$ 109,929
Shares, Issued at beginning of period at Jan. 31, 2009				204,111,096
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Net Loss	(264,252)							(272,035)				(272,035)		7,783
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, net of reclassification adjustments and tax	15,308								15,361			15,361		(53)
Unrealized gain (loss) for cash flow hedge positions, net of reclassification adjustments and tax	3,815									3,813		3,813		2
Foreign currency translation	14,570										8,019	8,019		6,551
Total comprehensive loss	(230,559)			0	0	0		(272,035)	15,361	3,813	8,019	(244,842)		14,283
Stock-based compensation expense	11,322					11,322						11,322
Common stock issued for restricted and deferred stock awards				158,829
Common stock issued for restricted and deferred stock awards	0			16		(16)
Impact from equity transactions of subsidiaries and other	32,605					3,107						3,107		29,498
Repurchase of common stock				(47,901)
Repurchase of common stock	(359)				(359)							(359)
Forfeitures of restricted stock				(148,639)
Forfeitures of restricted stock	0			(15)		15
Dividends to noncontrolling interest	(66,474)													(66,474)
Total equity, value at end of period at Jan. 31, 2010	509,722			20,422	(1,578)	1,959,701		(1,575,316)	25,663	785	(7,191)	422,486		87,236
Shares, Issued at end of period at Jan. 31, 2010				204,073,385
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Net Loss	(118,502)							(132,322)				(132,322)		13,820
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, net of reclassification adjustments and tax	(7,818)								(7,792)			(7,792)		(26)
Unrealized gain (loss) for cash flow hedge positions, net of reclassification adjustments and tax	(206)									(40)		(40)		(166)
Foreign currency translation	(2,042)										82	82		(2,124)
Total comprehensive loss	(127,366)			0	0	0		(132,322)	(7,792)	(37)	3,491	(136,660)		9,294
Sale of Verint Systems, Inc. shares of common stock, net of tax							52,203
Stock-based compensation expense	10,402					10,402						10,402
Common stock issued for restricted and deferred stock awards				709,513
Common stock issued for restricted and deferred stock awards	0			72		(72)
Impact from equity transactions of subsidiaries and other	67,369	59,320	(7,808)			66,483						66,483	52,203	886	7,117	(7,808)
Repurchase of common stock				(248,982)
Repurchase of common stock	(1,906)				(1,906)							(1,906)
Dividends to noncontrolling interest	(23,846)													(23,846)
Sale of Verint Systems, Inc. shares of common stock	0									3	2,600	2,603		(2,603)
Sale of Ulticom, Inc.	1,202										809	809		393
Total equity, value at end of period at Jan. 31, 2011	485,887			20,494	(3,484)	2,088,717		(1,707,638)	17,871	748	(3,700)	413,008		72,879
Shares, Issued at end of period at Jan. 31, 2011				204,533,916
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Net Loss	(31,019)							(58,726)				(58,726)		27,707
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, net of reclassification adjustments and tax	(21,634)								(21,631)			(21,631)		(3)
Unrealized gain (loss) for cash flow hedge positions, net of reclassification adjustments and tax	280									(234)		(234)		514
Foreign currency translation	(2,059)										2,772	2,772		(4,831)
Total comprehensive loss	(54,432)			0	0	0		(58,726)	(21,631)	(234)	2,772	(77,819)		23,387
Stock-based compensation expense	9,073					9,073						9,073
Common stock issued for restricted and deferred stock awards				1,931,361
Common stock issued for restricted and deferred stock awards	0			193		(193)
Exercises of stock options				377,300
Exercises of stock options				38		2,075
Exercises of stock options	2,113											2,113
Impact from equity transactions of subsidiaries and other	34,068					17,160						17,160		16,908
Common stock issued for settlement of shareholders class action				12,462,236
Common stock issued for settlement of shareholders class action				1,246		81,254
Common stock issued for settlement of shareholders class action	82,500											82,500
Repurchase of common stock				(667,971)
Repurchase of common stock	(4,527)				(4,527)							(4,527)
Dividends to noncontrolling interest	(1,930)													(1,930)
Total equity, value at end of period at Jan. 31, 2012	$ 552,752			$ 21,971	$ (8,011)	$ 2,198,086		$ (1,766,364)	$ (3,760)	$ 514	$ (928)	$ 441,508		$ 111,244
Shares, Issued at end of period at Jan. 31, 2012				218,636,842