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08.17.05
Symantec Secures Sygate
 By David Utter
The acquisition of Fremont-based Sygate will give Symantec another protection
option for enterprise customers.
Sygate provides intrusion prevention and network access control on its managed
agent platform, Sygate Enterprise Protection. While Symantec Client Security already
has intrusion prevention, it doesn't have the access control solution Sygate provides.
Access control has become a more critical issue for enterprises concerned about
protecting business data from theft. Portable media has evolved from the 1.44MB
floppy disk to tiny USB flash drives that can store 1GB or more of information.
The 60GB iPod can be used to carry files, and it fits in a pocket.
Internal employees cause far more damage than external attackers do, and the ability
to easily remove reams of data with a single portable device should give admins
everywhere cause for concern.
Symantec appears to be addressing that problem with this purchase. Sygate's access
control can be configured to block the transfer of data from a networked device
to a portable storage unit like a flash drive or even an iPod.
In a press release, Symantec said the Sygate technology "will complement Symantec's
presence on the endpoint" in enterprises. They don't mention the access control
feature specifically, but it is a feature currently missing from the Client Security
product. Adding it to that line certainly makes sense for Symantec to do.
About the Author:
David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. |
