Security vendor Symantec Corp., of Mountain View, Calif., has introduced a new cloud-based solution for protecting SMBs from ransomware and other increasingly rampant and sophisticated threats.
Available immediately in the U.S. and globally by the end of the year, the newly released Symantec Endpoint Protection Cloud includes end point protection, management, mobility, and encryption functionality, as well as layered detection controls powered by machine learning technology and Symantec’s Global Intelligence Network threat database. There’s also a dashboard designed to offer real-time updates on threat activity and compliance in an easily read format.
The system supports PCs, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, and servers running on the Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android operating systems. Licenses cover five devices per employee, and the solution comes with a self-serve portal employees can use to add new devices without assistance from a technician.
According to Symantec, the new product can be deployed and ready for use in under five minutes and costs “less than a dime a day” under a pay-as-you-go pricing model.
Fully 65 percent of all targeted attacks in 2015 struck SMBs, according to the latest Symantec Internet Security Threat Report.
“Attackers no longer aim just for the Fortune 500. Small and mid-sized business owners must adopt the same vigilance against advanced attacks and deploy the same modern defense capabilities found in enterprise solutions like machine learning to protect their businesses,” said Symantec vice president of engineering Javed Hasan, in a press statement. “With Symantec Endpoint Protection Cloud, we’re providing a cloud-based solution with all the features necessary to keep our SMB customers’ information secure without over-taxing already stretched IT departments.”
Also announced today were agreements by broadline distributor Ingram Micro Inc., of Irvine, Calif., and value-added cloud distributor Pax8 Inc., of Lone Tree, Colo., to offer Symantec’s new solution through their online cloud computing marketplaces.
“With the rise of BYOD and remote workplace innovation, businesses need the right security solutions to protect their infrastructure and data at all times from cyber threats,” said Tarik Faouzi, Ingram Micro’s vice president of global cloud partners and solutions, in a press release. “We are pleased to strengthen our security offering with Symantec and provide our resellers additional tools and support to secure their clients’ most important data.”
Pax8, for its part, views the new solution’s next-generation capabilities as something SMBs increasing can’t do without.
“We see with the rise of zero day vulnerabilities that you really do need to have advanced protection like that,” said Ryan Walsh, senior vice president of partner solutions at Pax8, in an interview with ChannelPro. Pax8 also admires the new solution’s combination of advanced protection and ease of installation.
“We find that really hard for vendors to deliver,” Walsh said.
The launch of Symantec Endpoint Protection Cloud comes almost precisely three months after Symantec announced its intention to acquire cloud and network security vendor Blue Coat Inc. in a deal valued at approximately $4.65 billion. Blue Coat CEO Greg Clark assumed the same role at Symantec as a result of that transaction, which closed in August.
