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