Has Symantec Lost Its Way?

This week, security and storage solution providers will gather in Washington, D.C., for Symantec’s Partner Engage conference. Absent from the proceedings will be Julie Parrish, the iconic channel chief that has been the face of the Symantec channel for nearly six years.   Parrish oversaw a litany of problems in her tenure as vice president […]

Oct 12, 2008
Channel Insider content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More

This week, security and storage solution providers will gather in Washington, D.C., for Symantec’s Partner Engage conference. Absent from the proceedings will be Julie Parrish, the iconic channel chief that has been the face of the Symantec channel for nearly six years.

 

Parrish oversaw a litany of problems in her tenure as vice president of the Symantec Global Channel Office. For more than two years, solution providers have complained about increasingly ineffective security software packages that consume more computing resources than stop threats. A botched ERP upgrade in 2007 derailed the ordering system and sent the channel to chaos. And over the summer, the vendor wrestled with a partner revolt following reports that it was taking parts of its business direct.

 

As one solution provider wrote to Channel Insider in the wake of Parrish’s resignation, “Symantec software has become so bloated and so penetrating in the systems I repair for others that it’s the first thing I get rid of, and never recommend to others. Norton Utilities was a good product years ago, but the company’s gone corporate-mad. I hope [Julie Parrish] learned something and doesn’t take the same attitudes to her next shift. I hope Symantec can find the rails, and maybe get back on them.”

 

Channel Insider wants to know: Has Symantec lost its way? What should solution providers tell Symantec’s channel management at Partner Engage? Join the discussion by posting a comment below.

 

Recommended for you...

Concentric AI Adds Integrations to Data Governance Platform

Concentric AI adds Wiz, Salesforce, and GitHub integrations to boost Semantic Intelligence platform’s AI-driven data governance and security capabilities.

Jordan Smith
Aug 15, 2025
Brivo Launching New Solution to Boost Security Suite

Brivo and Envoy partner to unify access control & visitor management, delivering scalable, compliant, and secure workplace experiences.

Jordan Smith
Aug 13, 2025
GitHub CEO Steps Down as Microsoft Tightens AI Integration

GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke to step down in 2025 as Microsoft moves platform into CoreAI, deepening its role in the company’s AI development strategy.

Allison Francis
Aug 13, 2025
Backblaze CEO on GTM Strategy & AI Demand on M&E Datasets

Backblaze CEO on record growth, AI and M&E wins, and how new products and partnerships are driving enterprise cloud storage adoption.

Jordan Smith
Aug 13, 2025
Channel Insider Logo

Channel Insider combines news and technology recommendations to keep channel partners, value-added resellers, IT solution providers, MSPs, and SaaS providers informed on the changing IT landscape. These resources provide product comparisons, in-depth analysis of vendors, and interviews with subject matter experts to provide vendors with critical information for their operations.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2025 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.