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Between the Lines

Larry Dignan, Andrew Nusca and Rachel King

Symantec picks up VeriSign's security unit, makes identity management play

By | May 19, 2010, 1:45pm PDT

Summary: Symantec is buying VeriSign’s identity and authentication unit to fill out its product lineup and better target enterprise customers.

Symantec said Wednesday that it will acquire VeriSign’s security business for $1.28 billion in a move that gives the company an even larger footprint.

Specifically, Symantec is acquiring VeriSign’s identity and authentication business (statement). That unit includes Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate, public key infrastructure (PKI) and identity protection and authentication services.

Symantec said it will fold VeriSign’s security products, known primarily online, into its own roadmap and sales channel. VeriSign’s authentication business will reside in Symantec’s enterprise security group.

Enrique Salem, CEO of Symantec, said in a statement:

IT is faced with the challenge of giving users the appropriate access, while ensuring that corporate data is not at risk. We believe the solution to this dilemma lies in the ubiquity of identity-based security.

In a nutshell, you can expect Symantec to start offering identity security services throughout the device and PC food chain. Symantec sees identity as the linchpin and middle layer to bridge its security product lineup.

Here’s a look at how Symantec sees the VeriSign business coming together:

The company said the VeriSign purchase will result in a 9 cents a share hit to non-GAAP earnings in fiscal 2011.

Related: Symantec gains amid McAfee’s pain

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Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and SmartPlanet as well as Editorial Director of ZDNet's sister site TechRepublic.

Disclosure

Larry Dignan

Larry Dignan has nothing to disclose. He doesn’t hold investments in the technology companies he covers.

Biography

Larry Dignan

Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and SmartPlanet as well as Editorial Director of ZDNet's sister site TechRepublic. He was most recently Executive Editor of News and Blogs at ZDNet. Prior to that he was executive news editor at eWeek and news editor at Baseline. He also served as the East Coast news editor and finance editor at CNET News.com. Larry has covered the technology and financial services industry since 1995, publishing articles in WallStreetWeek.com, Inter@ctive Week, The New York Times, and Financial Planning magazine. He's a graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism and the University of Delaware.

For daily updates, follow Larry on Twitter.

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RE: Symantec picks up VeriSign's security unit, makes identity management play
jackson1984-24316069205748857739440257893812 11th Oct
Wow! Truly astounding publish uncovered it on Yahoo . This aricle is kind of engaging. You look to get an exceptionally veteran nfl jerseys 2012 blogger I'm actually new to running a blog
There is no one size fits all solution to keep company networks secure, using social media productively in the workplace, and keeping employees happy. Palo Alto Networks came out with an interesting whitepaper on the subject of blocking social networking apps that you may have to worry about, ??????To Block or Not. Is that the question??????? here: http://bit.ly/d2NZRp. It has lots of insightful and useful information about identifying and controlling Enterprise 2.0 apps (Facebook, Twitter, Skype, etc.) Let me know what you think?????? kelly@briefworld.com
There is a webinar they are hosting that should be very cutting edge. You can register for now. It delves into social media and security, obviously a hot topic right now. http://bit.ly/cR80Al
@kellybriefworld Symantec sees identity as the linchpin and middle layer to bridge its security product lineup.
@frankts They used to have the best anti-virus program ever but look what they did to it now it is utterly worthless.
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There goes the end of security....
dougogd@... 23rd May 2010
Symantec messes everything up they get their hands on. They used to have the best anti-virus program ever but look what they did to it now it is utterly worthless. I would not trust that company as far as i could throw the earth.
Well done! Thank you very much for professional templates and community edition
seslisohbet seslichat
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RE: Symantec picks up VeriSign's security unit, makes identity management play
jackson1984-24316069205748857739440257893812 11th Oct
Wow! Truly astounding publish uncovered it on Yahoo . This aricle is kind of engaging. You look to get an exceptionally veteran nfl jerseys 2012 blogger I'm actually new to running a blog

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