WebNew Industry Study Benchmarks Total Cost Security Purchases
TCA consists of three main drivers, according to study commissioned by Web filtering solutions provider St. Bernard Software San Diego, CA – June 14, 2010 – St. Bernard Software, Inc. (OTCBB: SBSW),
a leader in Web security appliances, in conjunction with market research firm
Robert Hale and Associates, today announced findings of the first US mid-
enterprise market study quantifying four key areas that identify and define Total
Cost of Acquisition (TCA) associated with Web security solutions. Among several
key findings, the study confirmed that expenses surrounding TCA can be far
greater than the initial purchase price, which significantly impacts an
organization’s return on investment (ROI) and total cost of ownership (TCO).
Translating beyond the upfront initial purchase price, the study defines total cost
of acquisition as all costs required to fully enable or deploy a Web filter solution
or service. This latest study provides an objective measurement of IT time and
investment in the following drivers of TCA for Web security:
Total installation costs (includes servers, licenses, and other hardware
purchases)
Total set-up costs (includes costs associated with IT time, technical
support, and professional services)
Total purchase price of the Web filter
Other relevant costs (includes technical support agreements and industry
specific costs)
“Our goal was to identify and examine all costs associated with acquiring and
fully deploying a technology solution, beyond the initial purchase price,” said
Robert Hale, founder of Robert Hale and Associates. “So often buyers focus
solely on the price tag, and aren’t aware that the total acquisition cost typically
includes additional, unexpected expenses that weren’t accounted for when
determining the ROI of their investment. For some companies these other costs
can frequently be as high as 5x the purchase price of the Web filter.”
The study compared total acquisition costs between St. Bernard and Websense
Web security solutions. Primary findings of the study included:
St. Bernard’s iPrism is almost half as costly to acquire and deploy than
Websense. For a normalized (or typical) 750 seat enterprise, St. Bernard
customers spent $24,774 in total Web filtering acquisition costs, compared to
$43,138 for Websense
60% of Websense customers were required to purchase additional servers
on top of the initial Web filter expense, compared to only 4% of St. Bernard
customers
Nearly 30% of Websense customers were required to purchase other
additional hardware, compared to only 6% of St. Bernard customers
27% of Websense customers reported that the total amount of time for
setup and installation of the Web filter solution was more than expected prior
to purchase, versus only 9% of St. Bernard customers. Conversely, nearly
30% of St. Bernard customers reported that their setup and installation
experience was easier than expected, compared to only 12% of Websense
customers
“In today’s economy, it has become increasingly important for businesses to
better manage their Total Cost of Ownership in order to maximize ROI. Better
management of TCO begins with a clear understanding and examination of
TCA,” said Steve Yin, VP of global sales and marketing. “We understand that
today’s IT administrators have a responsibility to ensure that all technology
investments are based on best overall efficiency and value, and we’re pleased
that our lower TCA will result in a higher ROI for our customers.”
Robert Hale and Associates conducted the study with a sample of 250 mid-
enterprise IT professionals from commercial, financial, healthcare and
manufacturing industries. The respondents were selected randomly from a
database of companies sized 250 – 1,500 employees. The results are significant
at the 95% level of confidence, and show important differences between St.
Bernard and Websense in each of the measured areas.
For more information about the study and the summary report, please visit
www.stbernard.com/tcastudy
For more information regarding St. Bernard please visit www.stbernard.com or
call 1-800-782-3762.
About Robert Hale and Associates
Robert Hale and Associates specializes in providing market research and
consulting services for technology companies. With over 10 years experience in
conducting market research, planning, strategy, and implementation support, our
clients in the technology space include Qualcomm, Motorola, Samsung,
Panasonic, Cisco, Microsoft, Mitchell International, and ViaSat. For more
information, please visit www.roberthaleassociates.com
About St. Bernard
St. Bernard Software develops and markets Internet security appliances and
services that empower IT professionals to effectively, efficiently and intelligently
manage their enterprise’s Internet-based resources. Originally founded in 1995
as a market-leader in data security with its flagship product, Open File
Manager™, the company is now recognized for delivering today’s #1 Web
filtering and security appliance, iPrism'. With millions of end users worldwide in
more than 5,000 enterprises, educational institutions, SMB, and government
agencies, St. Bernard strives to deliver simple, high performance solutions that
offer excellent value to our customers.
More Insights