Symantec reveals vision for better security
Chief executive John W Thompson promises improved protection for firms
Martin Courtney, IT Week 09 May 2006
The ninth annual Symantec Vision customer and strategy event in San Francisco saw the security specialist commit to protecting enterprise data and online transactions through a combination of client software and service provider network tools.
The company is also looking at ways to expand its enterprise security and email management offerings, and deliver enterprise software though web services. It additionally plans to pour money into its marketing in anticipation of a fight with Microsoft to deliver security utilities to PCs, laptops, PDAs and smartphones.
Symantec chief executive John W Thompson stressed that security should not be limited to the perimeters of the LAN, but should be moved closer to the data itself to protect it as it moves across enterprise infrastructure.
Thompson said this trusted environment could be made up of many different platforms and devices, spanning business partner networks, supply chains, and even customer links, with authorisation measures to ensure that the right people get access to the right information.
But Thompson refused to elaborate on any plans to integrate data encryption or identity management in Symantec products, which most experts agree would be necessary for this scheme…
