Dell will sell Secure Exchange, the e-mail management and security solution the PC manufacturer developed in conjunction with Symantec, both companies announced Sept. 20.
The solution, designed to take the complexity out of deploying a secure Microsoft Exchange environment in the enterprise, is a package of Symantec software wrapped around Dell hardware and services, much the same as Symantec's VARs might, said Art Gilliland, senior director of Symantec's Messaging Management Group.
Dell is already among Symantec's largest resellers and all the packaged products were already available directly through the PC manufacturer.
"They created this offering," Gilliland said, "and they put a lot of value add in it. Dell worked with us to test and deploy and offer a solution set they believe is relevant, like any solution provider would and we support them like we would any other partner."
Secure Exchange is comprised of several Symantec products including Mail Security 8200 Series, Mail Security for Microsoft Exchange, Enterprise Vault, and Backup Exec, built on Dell's PowerEdge servers, PowerVault storage and Dell/EMC storage. Dell will provide services are tailored for each offering. Dell is added software tools for sizing and managing the solution.
Secure Exchange will be sold by Dell and supported through Dell and Symantec service resources.
Dell has made strides to expand its services offerings, which are currently at the low end of the spectrum.
Michael Dell, in an address earlier this month to analysts, cited improving the company's services capability as a key to success and growth.
Click here to read more about Dell's plan to reinvent itself.
Dell will "expand the domain knowledge and expertise in specific industries where customers require it," Dell said.
Dell is expanding expertise in horizontal areas such as VMware, Exchange, Linux and Unix, and is also exploring a vertical approach, "digging deeply into industries to provide much more capability," he said.
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