Vision 2011: Symantec to push PGP encryption into the cloud

BARCELONA: Symantec is working on a cloud-based version of its PGP encryption technology as part of efforts to move all of its security tools "that make sense" into the cloud.

Speaking to V3 at the Vision 2011 event, SMB and Symantec.cloud president Rowan Trollope argued that the technology will benefit from being managed in the cloud, since it will make encryption key sharing far easier for customers than with the current on-premise version.

Trollope revealed that Symantec is looking to put "everything that makes sense" into the cloud as the firm looks to offer a broader range of products, although its SAMG technology portfolio, which comprises what are effectively "datacentre enablement tools", will not get the cloud treatment.

The stepping stone towards offering "true cloud services" could involve hybrid models where on-premise components are sold together with cloud elements as a service, he added.

"Today we're taking existing products and enabling them to be managed in the cloud, but in future we want to go down the path of web services, making different combinations of services available to customers," he said.

"We're half way through the existing phase but we're also working on the other stuff with open web services which will be ready in six to nine months. It'll blow your mind."