Symantec Protection Suite Delivers Streaming Defense Against Web 2.0 Threats

PRESS RELEASE

CUPERTINO, Calif. - August 3, 2009 - Symantec Corp. today expanded its ability to protect enterprises against web-based threats with the addition of Web Gateway 4.5 to its Symantec Protection Suite Enterprise Edition. The Web security appliance provides comprehensive protection by employing multiple layers of antimalware technologies including Symantec's antivirus engine to protect customers against today's most prevalent botnets and Web 2.0 threats.

Web Gateway gives Symantec Protection Suite Enterprise Edition customers a real-time inspection engine that scans inbound and outbound traffic on-the-fly with zero latency, eliminating the delays commonly associated with proxy-based architectures. On top of this real-time traffic inspection, it adds multi-layer defenses for comprehensive protection against inappropriate or malicious sites, active content, application file downloads and "phone-home" traffic.

"The combination of Web Gateway with our endpoint security, messaging security and system recovery technologies in one suite gives administrators comprehensive protection with much greater manageability," said Francis deSouza, senior vice president, Enterprise Security Group, Symantec. "Symantec Protection Suite also reduces the costs of securing a customer's environment so that they can focus on effectively managing those risks that are inherent to their IT infrastructure."

As the Web has evolved to a more interactive, social Web, it has been accompanied by a mass proliferation of attacks. Web-based attacks are now the primary vector for malicious activity over the Internet as the attacks seek to exploit the increase in Web application vulnerabilities. According to the Symantec Internet Security Threat Report Volume XIV, during 2008, 63 percent of all vulnerabilities affected Web applications - an increase of nearly 60 percent over the previous year. Symantec also detected more than 55,000 phishing website hosts during 2008, an increase of 66 percent over 2007.

"We've definitely seen the uptick in Web threats during the past year," said John Boline, service manager at Hagerman & Company, Inc. "But Symantec Web Gateway is giving us real-time detection and protection against this explosion of Web threats. It combines that with a comprehensive Web reporting and alert system and with the ability to create flexible policies and controls across our organization."

Symantec has added Web Gateway to its portfolio as part of its ongoing integration with Mi5 Networks following its acquisition in April. The new Web security solution is built on technology powered by the Symantec antivirus engine and backed by the Symantec Global Intelligence Network, which is comprised of databases that collect information from around the world to identify emerging threats, develop defenses and distribute solutions. To track malicious activity, Symantec maintains 11 Security Response Centers and utilizes 240,000 attack sensors, logging more than two billion events each day.

Licensing and Availability Symantec Protection Suite Enterprise Edition including Web Gateway 4.5 is now available to customers in a variety of deployment options through Symantec's worldwide network of value-added resellers, distributors and systems integrators. Organizations seeking a reseller or distributor should visit: http://www.symantec.com/partners/index.jsp.

About Symantec Symantec is a global leader in providing security, storage and systems management solutions to help consumers and organizations secure and manage their information-driven world. Our software and services protect against more risks at more points, more completely and efficiently, enabling confidence wherever information is used or stored. More information is available at www.symantec.com.