F-Secure offers security as service model

BANGALORE: Data security solutions provider F-Secure said that it will offer its security solutions as a service model primarily through Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

The Finland-based company has tied-up with Reliance Communications and ExattNet to provide security package to their broadband users. According to F-Secure, it will be the first firm in the world to offer security solutions as a service model primarily through ISPs.

“Currently our focus is to target the consumer market and since Reliance and ExattNet already have good infrastructure in place and the target audience, aligning with them was a natural step for us. Besides, it made good sense to gain foothold in the market with local partnerships than entering all by ourselves,” says Patrick Runald, senior security specialist, F-Secure security response lab- APAC region.

The company is hoping to setup a development center in India. However, it does not have any concrete plans regarding the location or investments.

“India is a key market for us in the APAC region. We plan to increase our sales presence significantly to tap this region by the end of the year,” Runald said.

The company also has plans to tie-up with system integrators, IT service providers and consulting companies to further its growth plans.

F-Secure's data security solutions offer a complete integrated and automatic solution that will provide direct accessibility to customers having self-subscription module also. Talking about the products, Runald said that F-Secure provides one of the quickest reactive solutions to the users with a response time of two hours 45 minutes, much faster than its competitors with a margin of over eight hours.

Additionally, the company has developed a new technology to thwart phishing attacks, which identifies the origin of the mail and the text and the URLs the phishers use. These details are compiled and analyzed, before alerting users against such attacks in future. Besides, the company also offers several daily alerts and updates to its customers.

The company has also developed anti-virus and firewall solutions based on Symbian and Windows open operating systems for the mobile phone segment also. Currently, Nokia is bundling F-secure solutions for its products in the European and Malaysian markets.

Speaking on the threat scenario, Runald said, “Presently, we have around 165,000 varients of viruses in the net world, while there are 205 varients of mobile viruses across the globe. Though we haven't had any major outbreaks with the last one being Saser work, which affected millions of PCs across the world, the motives of the spammers have changed.”

Earlier, teenagers did it for the sake of fun but now people with criminal intention and for financial gain are operating. This trend is likely to cause more havoc with the spammers turning infected PCs into bots and using the same to steal personal and financial information,” he added.

The Helsinki based F-Secure has a clocked a turnover of €61.8 million with a Y-o-Y growth of 44 per cent.

The company has its presence across 14 countries and employs about 430 people. It has headquartered its APAC business at Singapore and has offices in Hong Kong and India.