VARs See Epic Security Slugfest Between Symantec, Microsoft

Symantec on Tuesday unveiled its Genesis project, a sweeping new consumer security service for Windows Vista and Windows XP as a first strike in the battle. Microsoft followed with its own final pricing announcement for its Windows OneCare Live security service.

Symantec said it will make its service available to VARs and systems builders targeting consumers. Microsoft, however, said at this time it is only announcing availability of its service as a download direct from Microsoft or from select retailers, but it is exploring other options.

"Symantec just issued a preemptive strike against Microsoft," said Brian Deeley, manager of Graymar Business Solutions, a Symantec solution provider based in Timonium, Md. "But the Microsoft security announcement is really going to put the heat on security vendors like Symantec, Trend Micro and McAfee. Microsoft has a history of not entering a market unless they can capture a majority market share."

For his part, Deeley said he does not see the new services as a threat to his business with small and midsize business customers.

"Both of these services are targeted at the consumer/end user market versus small-to-medium business or enterprise where solution providers play." As for who is the better partner for VARs, Deeley chose Microsoft over Symantec. He said the intense competion should ultimately result in better revenue streams for VARs.

Deeley said he will look at offering a comprehensive security service to his home user clients. "Any security solution has to be tiered," he said. "These services are part of tiered solution. We're going to have to look at the services and decide what is the best value for the end user. We will also look at who offers the best terms and conditions for us as a reseller, who is going to add to our bottom line."

The new Symantec service will be available in the fall for both Windows Vista and Windows XP under the Norton brand name. Pricing for the new service, code-named Genesis, was not available. Symantec, however, said an ongoing subscription fee will cover all updates and a designated amount of online storage for backup.

Microsoft, meanwhile, said its Windows OneCare Live will be available in June from retailers and via the Web for an annual subscription of $49.95 MSRP (manufactuer's suggested retail price) for up to three PCs.

Tom Powledge, director of product management for Symantec, said his company will make the new service available for white box builders and VARs targeting consumers. That noted, he said, Symantec intends to primarily offer the new service through online, retail and its OEM channel including deals with major PC makers such as Hewlett Packard and Dell, which has an online store that sells everything from Symantec's Veritas Backup Exec to Symantec's 320 Firewall/VPN appliance.

Symantec said its service incorporates everything from new security technology to prevent against identity theft to online backup for digital content. Microsoft's service, meanwhile, includes everything from antivirus and firewall protection to PC tuneup capabilities and backup and restore functionality along with what the software giant calls e-mail, phone and chat support at no charge.

Samantha McManus, business strategy manager for Microsoft, said Microsoft is evaluating other options for distributing its security service including PC OEMs, VARs and system builders. "My expectation is there will be multiple channels for this," she said.

McManus said the crowning jewel of the Microsoft service is the "peace of mind" it offers consumers. "This is a take care of it for you service," she said. "The best thing about OneCare is that it takes care of all the protection and maintenance needs."As to the impact that the Microsoft announcement will have on the marketplace, McManus said that 70 percent of consumers with PCs have either no antivirus protection or are running antivirus protection that is out of date.

"We think there is tons of room in this area to improve to help consumers be better protected and more satisfied overall with their PC experience," McManus said. "I think there is room for multiple vendors in this space."

Powledge stressed that Symantec's Genesis service is targeted at the heart of the consumer market and does not include management features that would be attractive to VARs. Furthermore, he said, at this time Symantec has no plans to offer a comparable version of the Genesis service for small and medium businesses that VARs can resell.

The new Symantec service is the first time that the security market leader has incorporated what it calls innovative technology it acquired from Whole Security last year. That technology, which was being used by large financial institutions, provides newfeatures aimed at protecting consumers from identity theft and online fraud without the need for digital signatures.

Symantec boasts that the new zero hour threat technology, which provides an additional layer of behavior-based security specifically looking for malicious code aimed at stealing personal information "will restore consumer confidence in online banking and shopping."

Genesis also aims to protect personal data from loss by automatically backing up valued digital content including photos and financial statements that could be identified by category and "routinely and automatically backed up by Genesis to an online site."

As to whether the new offering is a preemptive strike against Microsoft, Powledge said Symantec plans to lead the consumer security market and aims to have it available for Microsoft Vista from "day one" when the long awaited operating system is available.

Deeley says he sees tier one PC makers offering the Symantec and Microsoft services as three month free trials that would move toward a monthly bill from either Symantec or Microsoft. "Tier one PC makers can definitely buy this at a lot cheaper price than someone like I could," said Deeley. That said, he noted, systems builders are beating tier one PC makers with a level of service and an ability to customize a system that those major vendors can not match.

Arnie Bellini, president of ConnectWise, a Tampa, Fla., solution provider that also markets the ConnectWise managed service platform, said he does not see the new security services as a threat to VARs. "I am certain that Microsoft Vista has been designed from the ground up with security in mind. I think Symantec is reacting to Microsoft's improved security in Vista."

Bellini said Microsoft's all out effort to improve security on all fronts has paid off in what he sees as a significant improvement from a year ago. "My feeling is that Microsoft is doing everything they can to tighten up on security but they have such a large footprint that they are a natural target," he said.