Symantec fills gap with whole disk storage encryption |
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By Neil Roiter, Senior Technology Editor
04 Mar 2008 | SearchSecurity.com |
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Symantec's addition of whole disk and removable storage encryption fills an important gap in its endpoint security portfolio, rounding out its data protection offerings and strengthening its competitive position.
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Companies still have sensitive data people use for day to day work. They need to protect it once you start carrying it around on laptops, once you start carrying removable media around.
Edy Almer,
senior product manager for endpoint protection, Symantec
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In an OEM deal with GuardianEdge, Symantec offers Endpoint Encryption 6.0—Full Disk Edition, and Endpoint Encryption 6.0—Removable Storage Edition as separate products or an integrated suite.
Coupled with Endpoint Protection 11.0, a comprehensive package of AV/antispyware, HIPS, application and removable device control, and optional NAC, the new offering gives Symantec customers one-stop shopping for laptop and desktop protection. On the data protection side, it complements the gateway/endpoint data loss prevention acquired with Vontu in November.
"Encryption starts where Vontu endpoint protection ends," said Edy Almer, Symantec's senior product manager for endpoint protection. "Vontu reduces risk and helps control and operationalize control of data, especially sensitive data. Companies still have sensitive data people use for day to day work. They need to protect it once you start carrying around on laptops, once you start carrying removable media around."
GuardianEdge is a leader among the remaining independent vendors in the mobile data protection market along with Utimaco and Credant Technologies. The offering comes after competitors purchased two major players in the mobile data protection market: Check Point Software Technologies purchase of PointSec and McAfee's acquisition of SafeBoot.
McAfee announced Total Protection for Data in January, offering its DLP offering in a package with SafeBoot's disk and removable device encryption from its acquisition of SafeBoot. Check Point is integrating PointSec with its own new Endpoint Security, released last month which added a VPN client and optional Kaspersky Labs antimalware to its package.
Symantec is very much ware of the importance of overall management capabilities as part of an overall security program, and management may be the acid test as security vendors vie for endpoint and data protection business.
"Customers were asking about an encryption solution form us," said Joan Fazio, director of product marketing for endpoint security. "We like GuardianEdge's technology and their central management. Encryption should be part of policy to protect sensitive information and part of company's risk management policy, a piece of broader corporate strategy."
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