In an energized RSA keynote, Thompson criticized Microsoft for its Windows-centric approach to security and for being too preoccupied with computer games and other computer related stuff to develop adequate enterprise-level systems.
Thompson highlighted Windows’ poor security track record by drawing on the notorious January 2003 Slammer Worm, which is said to have cost businesses and governments $1bn to clean up, as proof that the industry must change the way it fights viruses.
Thompson said Symantec is leading that particular change though its proposed $13bn purchase of Veritas Software Corp. The will deal provide customers with secure, platform-independent storage and back-up, ensuring customers’ business information is not only secure but also continuously available, he claimed.
We need to make sure information is secure and always available. Information that’s secure but not available is useless. Slammer showed us that, Thompson said.
Thompson was speaking barely an hour after Microsoft’s chief software architect opened the RSA event in San Francisco, outlining the steady progress his company in making Windows more secure from attack [see separate story].
Gates claimed Microsoft is spending one third of its annual $6bn R&D budget on security initiatives, such as code reviews, constructing threat matrixes and making code-checking tools, which had only been used internally at Microsoft, available to customers through the Visual Studio development environment.
Gates used his presentation to also highlight moves his company is making to protect users against spyware and attack from viruses. Last December, Microsoft bought anti-spyware specialist Giant Company Software Inc.
In anti-virus, Microsoft this month acquired Sybari Software Inc, its second anti-virus buy in 20 months. Gates also previewed an online beta anti-spyware service and announced next month’s beta of an AutoUpdate service for Windows servers.
Microsoft is entering a market responsible for the majority of Symantec’s revenue and Thompson has been frustrated at being forced to compete against what he believes to be little more than vaporware and press releases from Microsoft.
Thompson yesterday let his feeling show in keynote that drew gasps, then applause, from RSA delegates. We applaud Microsoft’s initiatives but they don’t go far enough the don’t offer cross-platform support. That’s why Symantec and other purpose built security companies will always be better alternatives, Thompson told RSA, causing applause.
We aren’t distracted by a host of computer games and a host of other computer related stuff going on, he said.
Thompson said the Slammer worm, which put worms firmly in the headlines during 2003 and 2004, had taught the importance of not only protecting systems, but of also making data continuously available.
He said Symantec’s purchase of Veritas would help keep data available while also taking Symantec’s systems across a broader range of platforms.
Now Symantec will serve consumers to enterprises and governments of all sizes, on every single platform, he said. Our enterprise customers will have a combined company that is pure play, with no hardware agenda. We can help our customers solve real business problems with a focus on cost, complexity and compliance.
He concluded: Leaders don’t follow and innovators see ideas and opportunities where others can’t.
