As part of an intensified focus on information security, Computer Associates has appointed Galix - one of Southern Africa`s major specialists in the corporate information security arena - to distribute key applications in the CA eTrust Defense range of e-business security software.
eTrust is an end-to-end suite of security applications that caters for enterprise-wide needs from mainframe to desktop, and Galix is focusing on five key packages: eTrust Intrusion Detection, eTrust Content Inspection, eTrust Firewall, eTrust InoculateIT and eTrust VPN.
"Formed seven years ago, Galix is highly regarded in the corporate information security market," says Mathew Barker, distribution account manager for Middle East and South Africa at Computer Associates, one of the world`s leading information security vendors.
"As a value-added distributor, Galix understands the security sector, has a formidable investment in intellectual capital, with perhaps the best local base of educated people actively involved in information security, especially intrusion detection."
According to Barker, the Galix appointment forms part of a resurgent foray by Computer Associates into SA`s information security market. He adds that major local companies use CA applications for fighting viruses, content scanning and intrusion detection, and identifies the low cost and long lifecycles of products such as eTrust InoculateIT as being key to CA`s local successes.
"The concept behind eTrust InoculateIT is not that you rent the software, but that you own the licence for it," he says. "This means that the key to the product and the virus definitions never expires."
He also believes the time is ripe for a fresh focus on security: "A leading analyst group has identified this as the year of `intrusion detection` and content inspection, and Computer Associates is perfectly positioned," he adds. "In fact, we believe we have the strongest offering in intrusion detection, and a very good offering in content inspection."
He points out that the Galix appointment complements Computer Associates` other two distributors in this sector of the market: Drive Control Corporation (DCC), which has long been its primary distributor in the storage arena, and the newly appointed Workgroup, which focuses on volume software licensing.
"With 17 products in the eTrust family, CA has one of the most comprehensive ranges on information security applications," he says.
As a value-added distributor (VAD), Galix offers a wide range of additional security services, including design and implementation of corporate information security strategies, intelligence services, and information security training.
"Barker believes the CA range will add value to the relationships Galix has with SA`s security resellers. "These companies are key security resellers, not just run-of-the-mill organisations," he says. "Galix has the ability to implement, scope and plan any environment when it comes to security."
He also believes that Galix will - in the future - play a major role in distributing CA`s security applications in sub-Saharan Africa, an area that has significant potential.
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