Symantec shifts focus to data security

Symantec is hoping to restore consumer confidence in online transactions

Symantec is expanding its focus from securing devices to protecting information, the company said at an event in New York. 

The 'Security 2.0' initiative will seek to restore consumer confidence in online transactions, while allowing enterprises to expand e-commerce initiatives without compromising security.

Traditional worms and viruses have largely been curbed, the company argued, and online criminals have shifted to stealing confidential information.

Symantec also asserted that technological advances have changed security needs. While at one time it was sufficient to lock down networks and devices, users today require access to data from mobile phones and notebook computers.

The next level of security requires partnerships between security providers in addition to new technology, according to Symantec chief executive John Thompson.
"Security 2.0 is not about some killer app. It's about how a combination of technologies, services and partnerships can deliver a level of confidence that companies must have in this world," he said at the event.

"Today, we argue, people are the perimeter. And as such, we have to think about what security technologies, services and partnerships we create."

Symantec has unveiled partnerships with consulting firm Accenture and security firm VeriSign. 

The company's Security 2.0 initiative spans consumer and enterprise products, Thompson said.

In the consumer space, Symantec plans to add identity services to its current products by supporting the VeriSign Identity Protection (VIP) authentication service.

This effectively provides a single sign-on capability to users of Symantec's Norton security products to services such as PayPal, eBay and Yahoo. The firm was unable to say which products will offer VIP support.

Symantec also unveiled the Norton Confidential Online Edition service. Prior to placing an order online, the service can scan the client's system for spyware and other malware. It also checks the website against a blacklist of known fraudulent services.

A software version of the service was launched on Monday targeted at consumers. The online edition targets e-commerce services such as online banks.

Symantec is also looking to create a technology that allows users to rate websites and stores and other users. Although the service in part resembles McAfee's SiteAdvisor, Symantec claimed that its scope would be wider. 

Symantec unveiled three new security applications for the enterprise market that aim to prevent data theft.

Database Security monitors the data that users access, and flags and possibly blocks abnormal behaviour. The software could prevent an attacker from pulling multiple credit card numbers from the database of an online store, for example.

The forthcoming Mail Security Solution, meanwhile, promises to reduce the risk of data being leaked by company insiders.

Slated for availability some time in November, the application scans outbound email for confidential data such as credit card information or social security numbers. It comes bundled with a set of 40 predefined filters.

The email service will be expanded some time next year, when Symantec plans to launch an application dubbed Symantec Web Security which offers essentially the same filtering functionality but does so for web traffic and FTP servers.

The application aims to prevent confidential data leaking through web-based email clients such as Hotmail or Yahoo Mail.

Symantec's Security 2.0 products allow the company to stay ahead of Microsoft, according to Eric Ogren, a senior analyst with the Enterprise Strategy Group. 

Microsoft launched its Windows OneCare security suite earlier this year which competes with Symantec's antivirus software. Microsoft also plans to launch a set of enterprise security products.

Ogren applauded the launch of Norton Confidential Online Edition arguing that, as the application will be sold to enterprises, it makes it easier to sell than the consumer version.

"Few consumers will pay for it. It will be driven by the e-businesses and banks of the world," Ogren told vnunet.com.