Symantec Offers Unified Solution for Managing Information Risks around Data Loss, Spam and E-Discovery

Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC) today announced the newest version of Symantec Information Foundation, an integrated Information Risk Management (IRM) product suite that builds on the company’s Security 2.0 strategy. Symantec Information Foundation delivers advanced controls to safeguard companies against data loss with unified protection for e-mail, Web and instant messaging (IM). The new solution, expected to be available this summer, enables information entering or exiting the organization to be archived, audited and discovered through a validated process that ensures proper chains of custody.

“Over the years, email and instant messaging have become critical communications tools, both internally and with our customers,” said Mark Kolodzej, vice president of IT and head of the infrastructure services department at ING Investment Management Group. “Protecting our customer information is a top priority for ING. Symantec Information Foundation helps us ensure confidential data stays in our organization, while decreasing the risk of spam, viruses and threats coming into our organization.”

The new release of Symantec Information Foundation 2007 helps customers to prevent data loss by delivering an integrated suite that includes new versions of its market-leading products, including Symantec Enterprise Vault 2007, Symantec Mail Security 8300 Series appliances, Symantec IM Manager 2007, Symantec Mail Security for Domino 2007 and beta support for content filtering of outbound Web communications.

Integrated Data Loss Prevention

With so many high-profile data breaches over the past several years, the scope of information security has expanded from preventing external threats to ensuring sensitive data doesn’t leave the organization. Symantec Information Foundation includes several new features to help control the flow of data in organizations, including:


Identification, classification and control of sensitive corporate data held in databases, e-mails, IM and file systems
Review, hold, release and audit of e-mail, IM and Web communications for policy compliance
Beta support for filtering outgoing Web communications to prevent accidental or intentional data loss through sites such as Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail or Gmail

Integrated E-mail and IM Management for IBM Lotus and Microsoft Collaboration Platforms

As employees adopt IM for day-to-day business processes, companies are realizing that messaging security must evolve to address new types of communication. To address these changes, Symantec Information Foundation now offers:


The first integrated appliance to secure e-mail and IM from viruses, spam and “spim” (IM-bourne spam), and other external threats by integrating acquired IMlogic technology and leveraging insight from Symantec’s Global Intelligence Network
The first integrated suite to manage archiving and security for the IBM Lotus collaboration platform
The first integrated suite to manage archiving and security for the Microsoft collaboration platform, including new support for archiving Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and Office Communication Server 2007

E-Discovery Chain of Custody Validation

With the recent changes to the U.S. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, global enterprises are assessing their ability to produce information in the event of a lawsuit or investigation. Organizations are being challenged to defend the process by which the data was retained and preserved, referred to as the “chain of custody.” Symantec Enterprise Vault 2007 includes several new features to help customers in these areas, including:


New reports and tools to validate and demonstrate the chain of custody of messages through the archival and discovery processes
The ability to decrypt, index and discover content protected by the PGP encryption system, in addition to existing support for decrypting content protected by Microsoft Windows Rights Management Services (RMS) and Entrust
Secure, API-based hand-off of data from Symantec Enterprise Vault Discovery Accelerator to third-party litigation support tools, reducing the risk of data being tampered with and challenges to chain of custody during the export process

“Many companies now rely on messaging for most internal and external communications,” said Christian Christiansen, vice president, Security Products and Services, IDC. “Because successful messaging strategies must encompass malware blocking, content filtering, compliance, eDiscovery and archiving, an integrated product set is needed that reduces administrative overhead, satisfies customer needs, and minimizes disruption from new vulnerabilities and changing regulations.”

To help customers maximize the value of their investments, Symantec offers a range of consulting, education and support services that complement and enhance the technology and business benefits of Symantec Information Foundation. Symantec Consulting Services provide numerous IRM offerings that enable organizations to establish more effective protection for messaging and collaboration systems, and lower the operational costs associated with data retention, e-Discovery and systems management. Symantec’s in-house Security Residents which specialize in messaging security and compliance can supplement a client’s IT staff and help refocus internal resources on other strategic business initiatives.

Symantec also provides hands-on technical training on migration, administration and new advanced features for Symantec Enterprise Vault and Symantec Mail Security 8300. Courses, which can be taught in the classroom or online, provide instruction on product functionality, operations and features. Advanced Enterprise Vault courses cover topics on management and reporting, audits, Outlook Web Access, offline vault, back up and restore. For more information, visit http://www.symantec.com/enterprise/theme.jsp?themeid=globalservices.

“Information security today transcends locking down systems and is more about securing the information,” said Francis deSouza, vice president, Information Foundation Group, Symantec. “Historically, organizations have had to deploy and manage a variety of disparate point products for e-mail, IM, web and archiving. Symantec Information Foundation enables customers to take a holistic, integrated approach by intelligently classifying, managing, and controlling information risk from within a single, integrated solution.”

Availability

Symantec Information Foundation 2007 and the standalone products are available through Symantec’s worldwide network of value-added authorized resellers, distributors and systems integrators, and are scheduled for availability this summer. For more information about Symantec Information Foundation, please visit http://www.symantec.com/enterprise/products/overview.jsp?pcid=1018&pvid=2041_1.

Symantec customers interested in learning more about the beta version of Symantec’s gateway security support for filtering Web communications should contact their Symantec account manager.

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 infrastructure, 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.