Updated: Computer Associates' line of six protection suites promises cost-effective coverage solutions for small and midsize businesses.
Computer Associates International Inc. released six integrated protection suites aimed at SMBs (small and midsize businesses), all with a common Web-based management console and desktop dashboard.
The CA Protection Suites r2 are designed to deliver multiple layers of protection that safeguard SMBs from viruses and spyware, back up and restore critical business information and ensure that user settings, preferences and data are transferred accurately to upgraded or new PCs, according to product notes released by the company.
The r2 series is aimed at the SMB, where cost of ownership and limited resources to deploy and manage protection applications have left many organizations wanting for even minimal IT security precautions, according to a survey CA commissioned in August.
The survey report, "Achieving Best Practice in IT Management for SMEs," produced by Quocirca, a research company based in Berkshire, England, found that less than 25 percent of SMBs are fully protected against intrusions and security vulnerabilities.
Most respondents said they lack the time, money and resources to be fully prepared.
CA's r2 series is built to overcome those obstacles, by simplifying deployment and integration, said George Kafkarkou, senior vice president of SMB and Consumer Channels at CA.
"It's one CD, one integrated install, one integrated dashboard and user experience, one license to track and manage, from one vendor with reputation and brand name you know," Kafkarkous said.
"All things focus groups tell us they want. The SMB end user is tired of point solutions. They want an integrated out-of-the-box answer to security."
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CA's Protection Suites series is designed to guard against just such threats and will be priced and configured based on platform size and size of business, the company said.
CA has chosen Microsoft Corp. as their highway into the SMB market, where Microsoft has made a large presence with products such as Small Business Server.
Four of the protection suites are built around Microsoft architecture and those products will be offered to Microsoft's small business VARs, as well as CA's own, Kafkarkous said.
Additionally, designated Microsoft Small Business Specialists, will receive a free "show and sell" demonstration kit and one free product for resale, he said.
Remaining Microsoft VARs will benefit from CA's Web-based download, which will allow end users to download the product from CA and at a higher margin for the reseller, Kafkarkous said.
The Microsoft related security suites are directed through distributors including TechData Corporation and Ingram Micro, Inc.
The other two suites are available directly through several distributors —CDW Corporation, PC Mall, Inc. and TigerDirect.com.
CA Protection Suites r2 is designed to be user-friendly for organizations that may lack professional IT staff, the company said in a statement.
The line features a Web-based management console that allows SMBs to centrally manage data protection tasks, users, policies and reports, according to product notes.
The graphical dashboard is intended to simplify all anti-virus, anti-spyware and data backup and migration operations. A single installation process eases set-up and configuration and automates compliance with backup policies.
Click here to read more about opportunities in the security space for VARs serving SMBs.
The six suites that will be available Monday for deployment by CA partners and resellers are:
CA Desktop Protection Suite for protecting data on users' desktops and laptops.
CA Server Protection Suite to protect centrally stored and managed data.
CA Business Protection Suite to protect data resident on both servers and desktops.
CA Business Protection Suite for Microsoft Small Business Server Standard Edition for SMBs using or planning to implement the standard edition of Microsoft's Small Business Server.
CA Business Protection Suite for Microsoft Small Business Server Premium Edition for SMBs using or planning to implement the premium edition of Microsoft's Small Business Server.
CA Protection Suite for Midsize Business for Windows for SMBs managing 50 to 500 PCs using Windows Server 2003-Standard Edition, Microsoft Exchange Server 2003-Standard Edition or MOM (Microsoft Operations Manager) 2005-Workgroup Edition.
Editor's Note: This story was updated to include information on Microsoft's small business VARs.
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