It has been over a year since security solutions major Symantec Corporation set up its liaison office in India. Though it has skirted shy of setting up a full-fledged subsidiary operations in India, a direct presence has resulted in a 350 per cent jump in revenues for the company, better known for its Norton anti-virus suite of products. Symantec worldwide is on a acquisition spree and has only recently announced a $975 million merger of Accent Inc. However, it is not planning any acquisitions for the moment in India. Instead, it has embarked on a strategic alliance route and has already tied up with iLantus Technologies in Bangalore and is planning similar partnerships. In an exclusive interview with eFE, Symantec Asia-Pacific vice-president Gary Sexton talked about Symantec's e-strategy. Excerpts:
How has the year been for Symantec in India?
We have had a 350 per cent jump in revenue since we set up a direct presence here. But more than anything else, we have established Symantec as a brand on its own, beyond Norton. Also, India is one country where we have successfully managed to tackle the grey market, unlike China. Though we do not have a subsidiary in India, we have invested a lot in strengthening the channels and in setting up sales, marketing and support operations.Has the growth in enterprise security segment witnessed any major increase during this period?
When we came here last year, we were not in the retail licensed market.
Today, we are leaders in the retail consumer market even as the market share of the enterprise segment has jumped to 50 per cent of our total revenues.
Globally too, we are shifting focus to enterprise segment which will grow to about 55 per cent this year as against just 30 per cent last year.
Why have you preferred alliances over acquisitions in India? Do you plan to set up a R&D lab in India now?
Acquisitions are an important part of our strategy worldwide as we shift focus to the enterprise security market. We get a dozen of proposals for acquisition, including some from India, but we are more keen on strategic alliances at the moment to build the base. But I am not completely ruling out that we will not buy out any companies here. There are no plans for R&D operations except in the four labs that we have worldwide.
What are the latest trends in Internet security? Does Symantec tackle the growing menace of hackers by employing hackers?
We do not have hackers on our payroll. We have extremely intelligent professionals. Undoubtedly, risks have increased manifold in a wired world and I would say nobody can say that his systems are 100 per cent foolproof.
Hackers will get to you. Enterprise security in the Net era has to be seen in a perspective of what is best for each organisation: a high-cost and no risk approach or a low cost and low risk approach.
Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.