Network Associates to strengthen presence in India

Network Associates Inc, a network security

and management software provider, has appointed Farokh Karanin Lam as the

Country Manager for the Indian subcontinent as part of its plans to

strengthen its presence here. The company is initially setting up a

liaison office in Mumbai by the OND quarter. Its focus will be to build

its image as a total networks security tool provider rather than just

anti-virus software vendor. Therefore, its investments will focus on brand

building exercise.

It has been strengthening its presence in the country in the last two

years by appointing Wipro and Godrej Pacific Technologies Ltd. as its

distributors and N&N, Microclinic, Softcell, IT Secure, Kinfotek,

Hytex NIIT, NIC and CMC as its channel partners. These partners had been

focussing on anti-virus software but will now be provided training to

support its suite of security tools, which includes firewall, network

management tool and service desk.

In addition to having 2-3 channel partners in every A-category city,

the company also plans to go aggressively to the B and C category cities.

"We have been focusing on the big corporates till now. However, with

e-commerce slowly picking up and MTNL slashing its leased line rates, we

expect network security issues to become relevant," said Lam.

"Our main advantage is that, we provide an entire suite of

security tools unlike any of our competitors," said Deb Dutta,

Regional Director, South East Asia/India, NA SEA Pte Ltd. In India,

another one of NA's targets would be to dislocate Checkpoint as the No. 1

firewall solution vendor.