Security market is dynamic, any time

Check Point has come out with a new software blade architecture. So what
are the changes in threats and security over the years that led you to launch
this new architecture?

Security market is very dynamic, any time. Almost every year we are coming
with very important messages. In the beginning, it was the simple virus, so we
had the Firewall and then came the email virus like love-me, love bug and
such stuffs, followed by phishing and data virus. And now with mobile phones
becoming smarter, theres a need to protect them from virus, too.

With such complications around, we came with UTM1 (unified threat management)
box where everything is in a single box; Then after a year we came up with
endpoint security. But, now we found out that about 90% of the customers using
UTM only need basic Firewall and so why should they have to pay for all the
rest? Hence, we developed the software blades as per customers needs.

In the current economic slowdown with cut in IT budgets, do you think IT
companies will go for a new kind of technology and solution like Blades?

First of all, IT budgets have decreased this year compared to last year,
where some companies decreased IT budgets by 10-15%. However, in such cuts the
security is touched at the last, but no company will compromise on security. And
our products are mainly on the opex and not the capex. So we believe that even
with cuts in IT budgets, there will be investment done in the security and risk
management. By this kind of an approach, and with our MSB approach model, we
allow our customers to spend on operational expense and not capital expense.

How important is India to Check Point in terms of market sales and R&D?

India as a country in terms of business market in Asia Pacific is very
important. In terms of business in the last five years theres an extremely high
growth, nearly about to 50%. And we see a rise in this growth every year because
of the potential in the Indian market, which is very huge compared to other
countries. In terms of R&D, it is mainly done by Israel because it is the
security. So currently, in India we are not holding any R&D team but we do have
sales and support teams. Though the R&D is mainly done in Israel, no one knows
about futureit can be in India or some other place.

Pankaj Maru

maildqindia@cybermedia.co.in