Symantec 2004 Annual Report Download - page 20

«18»SYMANTEC CORPORATION
2004 Annual Report
NBusiness Overview
Introduction
Symantec is the global leader in information security providing
a broad range of software, appliances and services designed
to help individuals, small and mid-sized businesses, and large
enterprises secure and manage their IT infrastructure. Symantec’s
Norton brand of products is the worldwide leader in consumer
security and problem-solving solutions. Founded in 1982, we have
offices in 38 countries worldwide.
Business Segments
We currently view our business in five operating segments:
Consumer Products, Enterprise Security, Enterprise Administration,
Services and Other.
CONSUMER PRODUCTS
Our Consumer Products segment focuses on delivering our Internet
security and problem-solving products to individual users, home
offices and small businesses. Symantec’s Norton brand of consumer
security products is a market leader in desktop protection, with
integrated products that work seamlessly to protect customers’
computers from virus outbreaks or malicious hacker attacks. Most
of the products that we are currently marketing or developing
feature LiveUpdate™ . This feature enables users to easily download
security updates including virus definitions, firewall rules, URL
databases and uninstall scripts. Our consumer products run primarily
on Windows®and Macintosh®operating systems. Our Consumer
Products segment represented 47%, 41% and 35% of net revenues
during fiscal 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Product offerings
in the Consumer Products segment include Norton AntiVirus™ ,
Norton Internet Security™and Norton SystemWorks™ .
ENTERPRISE SECURITY
Our Enterprise Security segment provides best-of-breed security
solutions for all tiers of a network: at the gateways between
the network and the outside world, at the servers that act as the
network’s vital organs, and at end-user devices including desk-
top PCs, laptops and handhelds. Our comprehensive solutions
include virus protection and content filtering, firewall and virtual
private networking, or VPN, intrusion prevention, and security
management. In addition, we have expanded our technology
offerings to include integrated solutions at the gateway and
client levels, which combine several of our individual technology
solutions, and early warning solutions. At the gateway level, our
products run on Windows NT® , Solaris® , and Linux®platforms.
Our products at the server level operate on Windows NT, UNIX,
Linux and other key server platforms. At the client level, our
products run on the Windows platform. Our Enterprise Security
segment represented 39%, 42% and 42% of net revenues during
fiscal 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively.
Antivirus Our virus protection and content filtering technologies
provide protection at the gateway, server, and client tiers against
known and unknown threats. Users of our virus protection and
filtering products are able to take action to protect their enterprise
from risks associated with using Internet resources. This includes
scanning or monitoring data that enters, leaves or travels inside
the organization, as well as detecting and eliminating malicious
code that may be introduced into a company’s network. Products
and services providing protection from virus attacks represent the
most well-known and largest market component of the enterprise
security area. Product offerings include Symantec AntiVirus™and
Symantec AntiVirus™Scan Engine.
Integrated Solutions An integrated solution combines multiple
security technologies with management, customer service and
support, and advance research. Integrated solutions are designed
to work together as a unified system, providing better overall
protection, quicker response and more efficient management.
Product offerings include Symantec™Gateway Security and
Symantec™Client Security.
Firewalls Firewalls provide protection against unwanted intrusion
while enabling the flow of approved traffic. VPN solutions are
designed to enable employees and business partners to remotely
access an enterprise network in a secure, cost effective manner.
We offer firewall and VPN solutions that protect throughout the
network, including at Internet gateways, gateways to sensitive
internal networks and at client devices. Product offerings include
Symantec™Enterprise Firewall with VPN, Symantec™Firewall/VPN
Appliance, and Symantec™Clientless VPN Appliance.
Management At the gateway and server level, our policy compli-
ance management solutions help customers define, manage, and
enforce policies from a central location as well as probe for network
vulnerabilities and suggest remedies to proactively reduce business
risk. The initial step to reduce corporate risk is to effectively measure
compliance to a business’ security policy and detect vulnerabilities
where critical information resides.