Symantec's Vision of Next-Generation Security

Symantec Outlines Vision of Next-Generation Security

Products and Partnerships Focus on Protecting Information and Interactions, Increasing Customer Confidence in a Connected World

Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq:SYMC) today outlined its vision for protecting customers from the next generation of threats targeting their information and interactions. The concept Symantec calls Security 2.0 brings together an ecosystem of products, services and partnerships to help customers remain confident in today’s connected world.

“Confidence is the essential component in today’s digital world,” said David Sykes, Symantec vice president Pacific region. “Consumers and enterprises alike need to feel confident that their information is safe and their interactions are secure. Otherwise, the digital lifestyle will not be as exciting or dynamic, and we will not realise the full potential that new technologies bring to the connected world.”

Sykes said that new technologies are driving new business models and opportunities for more online interaction. The internet has changed the way consumers bank, shop and interact online and has enabled them to connect directly to banks and e-tailers to conduct transactions. At the same time, competitive pressures are driving organisations to embrace more online collaboration and information sharing among their increasingly distributed workforces and their global suppliers and partners.

As a result, the battleground for security is no longer just the computer, or even the network. Protecting customers’ information and interactions requires more sophisticated security processes and technologies.

“As the threat landscape evolves it is critical that vendors, such as Symantec, broaden their focus to deliver next-generation security solutions that address the dynamic nature of business, the increase in real-time collaboration and online interactions, and the need for faster access to information,” said Chris Christiansen, program vice president, Security Products and Services Group, IDC.

To combat these new threats Symantec is delivering the next generation of security products and services that provide customers comprehensive protection. For consumers, Symantec is building solutions based on the fundamental tenets of identity and reputation, which are critical to furthering confidence and trust online. Norton Confidential provides web browsing protection and confidential information management and protection. It also provides crimeware protection and anti-phishing protection via web site authentication to help customers safely conduct online transactions. Symantec is pursuing new distribution models to enable organisations such as banks and online retailers to deliver protection directly to their customers.

For enterprises, Symantec is helping organisations manage new types of security and compliance risks, enabling them to pursue the business advantages of increased information access for customers, employees, partners and suppliers. The dynamic nature of today’s enterprise environments requires organisations to protect against risks such as data leakage or internal fraud associated with their information, including files, e-mail, instant messaging and enterprise data. To help customers reduce information risks Symantec is delivering multi-layer data leakage protection and application-specific solutions for enterprise databases, e-mail and web applications.

As more devices connect to complex network environments, organisations need to ensure that every endpoint, including servers, laptops and handhelds, have up-to-date security software. Currently organisations must install and configure multiple products, which only adds to the complexity. Symantec is integrating multiple security products such as antivirus, firewall, network access control and antispyware into a single software management solution. This will enable organisations to configure devices and manage the entire environment from a single console, improving their security while also reducing complexity.

Organisations today also have to comply with internal IT policies and external regulations, which requires a systematic and comprehensive approach to mapping regulations to policies, ensuring that they are being followed, and proving it when needed. Symantec’s strategy is focused on unifying policy management, configuration management, retention management and data protection management to provide enterprises with a comprehensive toolset for IT policy compliance.

In addition to technology, protecting customers’ information and interactions also requires the right set of people and processes. Symantec Global Services offers a full range of IT risk management consulting, education and support services, helping customers assess and manage risks to their security, availability, performance and compliance. Symantec Global Services’ extensive knowledge and technical and business expertise helps organisations reduce IT risk and cost.

For additional information on Symantec’s Security 2.0 vision go to http://www.symantec.com/about/news/index.jsp

About Symantec

Symantec is the world leader in providing solutions to help individuals and enterprises assure the security, availability and integrity of their information. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Symantec has operations in 40 countries. More information is available at www.symantec.com.

ENDS

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