Symantec Unveils Beta of Software as a Service Protection Program

Symantec Protection Network backs up and restores IT infrastructure of SMB shops

• By James E. Powell
• 04/17/2007

Symantec Corp. today announced the first product in its Symantec Protection Network software as a service (SaaS) platform targeting small and medium-sized (SMB) business’ IT infrastructures. The company’s Online Backup Service is the first SaaS program from Symantec and provides reliable backup and recovery of business-critical data from the simplicity of a Web browser interface. The service will become available later in the year; the company says cost will be based on use, making it cost effective for SMB enterprises to avoid the risk of losing data or noncompliance with government regulations.

“Small and mid-sized businesses require the same high levels of service reliability and data security as their enterprise counterparts,” said Arthur Wong, senior vice president, Symantec Security Response and Managed Security Services, in a statement. “Until now, however, many small and mid-sized businesses have not had the ability to get the reliable and secure service they need due to cost and lack of resources.”

Symantec says it will work with its channel partner network to deliver its Symantec Protection Network products and services, or an enterprise can subscribe to the service directly from Symantec. The company plans to offer other services using “a common portal, platform and support model that will be able to leverage a variety of bundles created for their needs as well as an open platform that can integrate with other services.”

The company says the service “provides a low-cost way for small and mid-sized businesses to get their critical data stored offsite in Symantec’s state-of-the-art data centers.”

More information is available at http://www.symantec.com