Synaq to market Altiris SecurityExpressions software

Synaq, a national provider of managed Linux services, is to market Altiris SecurityExpressions software, a scalable solution used to deploy and manage enterprise system security policies.

The solution caters for both an 'agentless' or agent-based approach and allows the user to automatically audit, deploy and enforce system security policies across all Windows, Unix and Linux desktops, notebooks, and servers in a fraction of the time previously required.

SecurityExpressions helps a business to implement, administer and manage formal, defined system security policies that control items such as: network authentication, systems settings, user rights, accountability, resource access controls, operating systems and application of patches.

The key advantage of the system is that it can be customised according to a company's specific security policy or can audit a network using industry security best practices including Sarbanes-Oxley, HIPAA and FISMA. Its fundamental benefit is the fact that it helps ensure that a company meets its IT security policies.

Both Altiris, a pioneer of service-oriented management solutions, and Synaq believe the solution will help local companies negotiate numerous challenges within the area of information security management, including compliance with legislation, vulnerability management, investment in technology and adequate protection against internal and external threats.

John Thomas, Regional Manager, Altiris, refers to the 2005 CSI/FBI Crime Report*, specifically towards the statistic which suggests that surveyed companies lost more than $130 million in 2004 due to poor system security.

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"The difficulty is that unforeseen security holes come in all different shapes and sizes-from missing patches, mis-configured systems, poor security policies, file sharing programs to outdated anti-virus definitions. Even if some critical areas are well-protected but others are not, the effect is the same as if none were well protected-resources can still be vulnerable. As a result, organisations are constantly struggling to increase their system security posture and combat security threats before they rapidly proliferate across the network or undermine their compliance with industry or governmental regulations," says Thomas.

Yossi Hasson, sales and marketing director at Synaq, suggests the introduction of SecurityExpressions will help reinforce a company's efficiency in managing security and protecting their most prized asset, namely data.

"Businesses tend to understand the need to invest in technology to help secure their environment. The issue is that acquiring solutions without any knowledge and insight from a specialist is like throwing money at a challenge in the hope that this will eliminate the problem. Our partnership with Altiris will add value to the local market because this is a proven solution from an internationally-established company with extensive experience in the field. This factor, together with our experience and knowledge of local requirements, will prove to be a worthwhile and profitable venture," says Hasson.

"Synaq has a very specific skill set in this country. Altiris relies on partners of this nature to implement and advise on key security issues. In many cases, security is viewed in the same light as purchasing insurance - one is only certain of its value when something happens," explains Thomas. "We are very happy with Synaq's skills and knowledge and feel that this partnership will be instrumental in taking us into the future."

* Computer Security Institute survey, "2005 CSI/FBI Computer Crime and Security Survey", by Lawrence A. Gordon, Martin P. Loeb, William Lucyshyn and Robert Richardson.