Symantec Raises the Bar for Enterprise Security with Symantec Endpoint Protection

Symantec Raises the Bar for Enterprise Security with Symantec Endpoint Protection

New solution integrates multiple security technologies into a single agent, managed by a single console to strengthen and simplify security for businesses of all sizes

MUMBAI – Symantec Vision 2007 – October 04, 2007 – Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC) today announced a significant step in its Security 2.0 vision with the introduction of Symantec Endpoint Protection 11.0 and Symantec Network Access Control 11.0. Symantec Endpoint Protection – the most significant update to Symantec’s market-leading enterprise antivirus product in years – combines Symantec AntiVirus with advanced threat prevention in a single agent delivering unmatched defense against malware for laptops, desktops and servers.

In order to protect customers from both today’s threats and tomorrow’s emerging threats, Symantec Endpoint Protection includes proactive technologies that automatically analyze application behaviors and network communications to detect and actively block attacks. Customers are provided integrated antivirus, antispyware, firewall, host- and network-based intrusion prevention solutions (IPS), and application and device control into a single solution that is easy to install and easy to manage.

Symantec Endpoint Protection reduces administrative costs associated with managing multiple endpoint security products by bringing together award-winning technology from Symantec, Sygate, Whole Security and Veritas. This provides operational efficiencies and gives customers a best-of-breed, yet fully integrated solution that works across platforms and is supported by a single vendor. It is also backed by Symantec’s Global Intelligence Network with eight Symantec Security Response Centers, four Symantec Security Operations Centers, 120 million systems and more than 40,000 sensors deployed in 180 countries.

“Symantec Endpoint Protection makes it easier for businesses to adopt a more effective multi-layered security solution and extends the power of antivirus to address today’s evolving threat landscape,” said Enrique Salem, Group President, Worldwide Sales and Marketing, Symantec. “It resets the bar for endpoint security, reducing overhead, time and costs so that customers can efficiently manage security and gain confidence that corporate assets and business are protected.”

Symantec Endpoint Protection is the only product that offers the benefit of essential security technologies (antivirus, antispyware, desktop firewall, intrusion prevention and device control) via a single integrated agent and administered from a single management console. Symantec Endpoint Protection features the new simplified management console, Network Access Control (NAC) enablement out of the box, and a range of training and support offerings to speed implementation for partners and customers.

Today, Symantec also introduced a new version of its Symantec Network Access Control product. Symantec Network Access Control 11.0 is an optional module tightly integrated with Symantec Endpoint Protection to help customers discover and evaluate the status of endpoints, provision the appropriate network access and provide remediation capabilities to ensure security policies and standards are met. Both Symantec Endpoint Protection and the new version of Symantec Network Access Control are expected to be available worldwide in September.

Strengthening Endpoint Security

Symantec Endpoint Protection was designed from the ground up to ensure a truly integrated experience for customers, resulting in broader and stronger endpoint protection. The solution is designed to be more resource friendly by reducing the memory footprint by more than 80 percent. The solution blends signature-based antivirus with new proactive threat detection technology to protect from both traditional and emerging threats. It includes the following:

· Enhanced antivirus and anti-spyware technology – provides better real-time malware detection, blocking and remediation. It features improved performance, a new client interface and new deep-scanning technology from Veritas to find and remove rootkits which often evade detection.

· New proactive threat protection – protects against unknown (or zero-day) threats by utilizing behavioral-based scanning. By checking both good and bad behaviors the algorithms significantly reduce the rate of false positives. Also includes Proactive Threat Scan, a unique technology acquired from Whole Security that detects and blocks malware without signatures to prevent outbreaks before they happen. Device control allows users to restrict access to devices (USB memory keys, back-up drives) in accordance with designated security policies, mitigating the risk of data loss.

* New network threat protection – incorporates Generic Exploit Blocking (GEB), utilizing unique vulnerability-based IPS technology. Because this IPS technology is embedded at the network level, malware is blocked before it enters the system. Unlike traditional exploit-based IPS technologies, GEB blocks all new exploits of a vulnerability (including variants) with a single signature to improve detection and speed remediation. Also provides a new rules-based firewall acquired from Sygate. The firewall dynamically adjusts port settings to block threats from spreading, and inspects both encrypted and cleartext network traffic.

Simplifying and Extending

With a widening group of users tapping into corporate resources, the need to secure endpoints and ensure compliance with security policies can no longer be separated. Symantec Endpoint Protection comes NAC-enabled out of the box. By integrating NAC and security into a single endpoint agent, Symantec enables customers to more quickly and easily deploy Symantec Network Access Control, and provides significant operational efficiencies such as single software and policy updates, unified reporting, and unified licensing and maintenance.

To help customers and partners maximize the value of their investments, Symantec Global Services is offering a range of consulting, education and support services that guide customers through the migration, deployment, operation and management of Symantec Endpoint Protection. These services include Symantec Endpoint Protection 11.0 and Symantec Network Access Control 11.0 implementation and migration services that are available for a single site deployment for small and mid-size businesses through global multiple site deployments for large enterprise customers. In addition, Antivirus Residency Services to help customers augment their IT staff and refocus existing resources on strategic business priorities, and Antivirus Operational Services to help clients confidently meet their Services Level Agreements through cost-effective outsourcing of antivirus activities.

Symantec Education Services provides hands-on technical training on new migration, administration, and advanced features for Symantec Endpoint Protection and Symantec Network Access Control. To complement these courses and to stay up-to-date through continuous learning, customers can subscribe to Symantec’s regularly updated Endpoint Security Tech Center – a self-paced, online training offering that covers key features, common questions, and advanced topics specifically on Symantec Endpoint Protection and Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition. In addition, Symantec Enterprise Support Services offer customers three levels of protection designed to meet the needs of the small business to the large enterprise.

New Tools and Services to Guide Migration and Maximize Product Investments

Symantec Endpoint Protection and Symantec Network Access Control serve a wide range of customers – from small businesses with no IT departments to global enterprises with thousands of endpoints to manage. Since each customer environment is unique, Symantec has developed a number of new tools and outsourced services to guide customers through product migration, new product deployment, operations and management for endpoint security.

Symantec will also provide customers with access to additional endpoint remediation and control capabilities to accelerate and enrich the benefits of Symantec Endpoint Protection 11.0. The new Symantec Endpoint Protection Integration Component is a free tool that integrates Symantec Endpoint Protection with the Altiris management platform to help Symantec customers streamline rollouts, facilitate migration from competitive products and secure endpoint configurations. Integrated Symantec endpoint security and management technologies provide Symantec protected systems with closed-loop remediation to help increase client availability and data security, and reduce IT ownership costs.

Licensing and Availability

Symantec Endpoint Protection 11.0 and Symantec Network Access Control 11.0 are available now and can be purchased directly or through Symantec’s worldwide network of value-added authorized resellers, distributors and systems integrators. Current customers of Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition, Symantec Client Security, Symantec Sygate Enterprise Protection and Confidence Online for Corporate PCs (Whole Security) with valid maintenance contracts are eligible for a free upgrade to Symantec Endpoint Protection 11.0. In addition, current customers of Symantec Network Access Control with valid maintenance contracts are eligible for a free upgrade to Symantec Network Access Control 11.0.

The Symantec Endpoint Protection Integration Component is scheduled to be available soon after the release of Symantec Endpoint Protection 11.0 at no additional charge to Symantec customers. For more information on these products, visit: www.symantec.com/endpointsecurity.

About Security 2.0

Security 2.0 is Symantec’s vision for the future of security. As security evolves to be more of an enabler than inhibitor, solutions must protect consumers and businesses at every connection, giving them confidence that their information and interactions are protected everywhere they go. Security 2.0 is about helping customers both protect themselves and take advantage of new opportunities in this increasingly connected world.

About Symantec

Symantec is a global leader in infrastructure software, enabling businesses and consumers to have confidence in a connected world. The company helps customers protect their infrastructure, information and interactions by delivering software and services that address risks to security, availability, compliance and performance. Headquartered in Cupertino, Calif., Symantec has operations in 40 countries. More information is available at www.symantec.com.