News Release
Symantec Releases New Altiris Workflow Solution
Symantec acquires IT process management technology to reduce IT costs through orchestrated task automation
Symantec (Nasdaq: SYMC) today announced the release of Altiris Workflow Solution to help businesses reduce costs through
IT process orchestration and automation. Workflow Solution helps customers implement IT processes, automate routine
tasks, reduce the cost of management, improve service levels and end user satisfaction and facilitate regulatory
compliance.
IT organisations are challenged to break down technology, process and organisational silos to squeeze the most out of
investments and resources. Workflow Solution is a heterogeneous IT process automation platform that crosses
technological boundaries by integrating various web services, databases, and service and configuration management tools
to decrease costly and tedious IT tasks. Workflow Solution gives even the most non-technical IT worker the ability to
create and deploy processes through a graphical drag-and-drop workflow designer that coordinates IT tasks, processes,
best practices and automation tools.
According to a November 2007 Forrester Research report titled, Tech Horizons: Sizing The Emerging Market For IT Process
Automation Software, “IT process automation has the potential to develop as a solution for both small and medium
enterprises that want to lower their IT operations costs and larger enterprises that are aiming at full process
improvement implementations through ITIL or other methodologies…Because IT process automation offers the capability to
tailor information and actions to the functions and roles of ITIL processes, it has the opportunity to bridge the gap
between processes and tools. ‘Process in a box’ through IT process automation is the way of the future.”*
IT organisations can use Workflow Solution to create custom workflow processes or use Symantec-prebuilt workflow
processes. Next-generation Symantec solutions are expected to provide out-of-the-box workflow processes for common IT
service requests such as new employee provisioning, self-help service catalogs, hardware and software requests, password
reset, etc.
Steve Morton, Symantec VP of product management and strategy, said, “IT organisations often have the right people, tools
and best practices but lack the ability to integrate them in a way that provides business value. Workflow Solution can
create confidence in IT operations by streamlining processes and helping the IT organisation focus on the most critical
business needs. Symantec is bringing to life best practices that were formerlly relegated to books collecting dust in
the server closet.”
Workflow Solution will further integrate Symantec endpoint security and management technologies to promote the
automation of customer processes including best practice frameworks like ITIL. Workflow Solution can leverage business
information provided through data repositories and configuration management databases, such as Altiris CMDB Solution.
CMDB Solution data populates the workflow process while a task engine synchronises configuration management tools to
deliver IT service with a minimum of human intervention.
Workflow Solution is based on technology acquired by Symantec earlier this year from Transparent Logic. Symantec had
been developing Workflow Solution through an OEM agreement with Transparent Logic prior to the acquisition.
Availability
Altiris Workflow Solution from Symantec is now available and can be purchased directly or through Symantec’s worldwide
network of value-added authorised resellers, distributors and systems integrators.
About Symantec
Symantec is a global leader in providing security, storage and systems management solutions to help businesses and
consumers secure and manage their information. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Symantec has operations in more
than 40 countries. More information is available at www.symantec.com.
ends