Graham Titterington
Symantec takes on Microsoft OneCare and InfoCard
Symantec plans to introduce a security service in September that will include security, backup and PC optimisation technology. It will be sold as a hosted service with an annual subscription. It is provisionally named "Genesis", and will protect against spyware, phishing, spam and viruses. In addition, it will provide secure storage for personal information, including credit card data, for e-commerce. Comment: This announcement must have been on John Thompson's mind at the Q3 results announcement on Tuesday when he spoke about addressing the security concerns of real people. However, it also demonstrates that Symantec is not leading Microsoft as he claimed - rather the converse. Microsoft announced its OneCare offering nine months ago! The announcement itself is welcome. It is addressing a market that is largely separate from the current buyers of Symantec's products. It is therefore a good move for Symantec to enlarge its own market share. It will put the spotlight on the relatively undiscovered concept of buying these basic protection services as a managed and hosted service. In the longer term, the potential for data backup services for consumers and small businesses will be greater than the market for hosted anti-malware services, but developments such as this will help to stimulate the services market across the board.
