Bhaskar Bakthavatsalu Country Sales Manager, India & SAARC, Check Point Software Technologies

How would you define 'Check-Point' as a company? What has made the company emerge so rapid on the security solutions horizon globally ?

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd is a market leader in the worldwide enterprise firewall, personal firewall, data security and VPN markets. Check Point's PURE focus is on IT security with its extensive portfolio of network security, data security and security management solutions. Check Point solutions are sold, integrated and serviced by a network of Check Point partners around the world and its customers include 100 percent of Fortune 100 companies and tens of thousands of businesses and organizations of all sizes.

Through its NGX platform, Check Point delivers unified security architecture for a broad range of security solutions to protect business communications and resources for corporate networks and applications, remote employees, branch offices and partner extranets. The company also offers market leading data security solutions through the Pointsec product line, protecting and encrypting sensitive corporate information stored on PCs and other mobile computing devices. Check Point's award-winning 'ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite' and additional consumer security solutions protect millions of consumer PCs from hackers, spyware and data theft. Check Point is synonymous with technical innovation. It started with Stateful Inspection, which was invented and patented by Check Point, and is now the foundation for much of today's network security technology. We've continued to innovate in key technology areas, such as malicious code protection, security acceleration, and cooperative enforcement. We currently hold five United States patents with more than 25 U.S. patents pending, and additional patent applications pending worldwide. Over one third of Check Point employees worldwide are in R&D. In 2006 alone we spend $62 million on R&D activities.

What has been the policy of the company on the merger & acquisition front globally? What prompted the company to acquire Point-Sec recently?

In 2003, Check Point acquired 'Zone Labs'. The Zone Labs's flagship product, 'ZoneAlarm' protects over 60 million PCs from viruses, spyware, hackers and identity theft. The award-winning Internet security product line is installed in consumer PCs and small businesses, protecting them from Internet threats. The 'ZoneAlarm' family of products is among the most popular and successful Internet security products available on the market.

In 2006 Check Point added a new layer in its portfolio with acquisition of 'Pointsec' (completed in January 2007). Foray into data security was followed by acquisition of 'NFR Security', which strengthened our offering in intrusion prevention and detection space. Our solutions have the largest number of deployment and highest level of certification and more complete device coverage than any other company. 'Pointsec' delivers a trusted solution for automatic data encryption that guarantees proven protection at the most vulnerable point where sensitive enterprise data is stored. Acquisition of 'Pointsec' expanded and diversified the product portfolio of Check Point and their best of breed solutions make our product profile more comprehensive to cater to the changing needs of our Indian customers.

How big is the over all security solutions market globally and in India? What market share do you aspire notching up globally as well as in India?

The Asia- Pacific network security market grew by 8.4 per cent in 2006 on a year-on-year basis. Infrastructure expansion, economic liberalization in the rising economies of India and China was one of the key drivers of this growth. According to survey by Frost & Sullivan, the Indian Network Security market recorded $95.5 million in 2006. Last year registered growth across all technology segments with firewall IPSec VPN being the major contributor followed by IDS/IPS solutions and SSL/VPN solutions. The market is expected to grow at a Compounded annual growth rate of 17.6 per cent during the period 2006-2013.

Globally 100 per cent of Fortune 100 companies, 98 per cent of Fortune 500 companies, 100 per cent of Global 100 companies and 98 per cent of Global 500 companies use Check Point security solutions. We are clearly the market leader in securing the Internet. We have also been largely successful in penetrating the Indian market.

How comprehensive is the UTM offerings on the part of 'Check-Point' in India? What additional innovations have been infused into 'Check-Point's' UTMs?

The UTM appliance market has already received a boost with entry of Check Point into this space. Earlier Check Point was only present with VPN-1 UTM software option that can be installed on customer's choice of hardware. The new offering of UTM appliances (UTM-1) provides extensive functional and logical network-based threat management and security coverage. It does so without exhibiting the shortcomings of other UTM offerings. UTM-1 delivers proven, tightly integrated security to achieve an ideal blend of simplicity and high levels of security effectiveness. UTM-1 provides extensive functional and logical coverage ensuring that the vast majority of programs are threat-free entering or exiting the network. UTM-1 appliances offer a complete set of security features including firewall, intrusion prevention, antivirus, anti-spyware, web application firewall, VoIP security, instant messaging (IM) and peer-to-peer (P2P) blocking, web filtering, as well as secure site-to-site and remote access connectivity.

Check Point provides industry's most proven firewall that secures hundreds of applications and protocols. Simplicity of UTM with proven security only Check Point can offer. It scales for enterprises of all sizes and new functionality such as SSL VPN connectivity or web application firewall can be easily added. Check Point provides enterprise grade protection for the product on floor with the same award-winning technology used by 100 percent of the Fortune 100 companies. Check Point UTM solution provides total visibility and control of all security functions from a single console-streamlining security management and operations. These advanced UTM features and centralized management are available without additional hardware.

How healthy is the partner eco-system of 'Check-Point' in India? What are the channel strategies of your company in the country? Regarding UTMs, how are you deploying your partner network in India?

Check Point is a 100 per cent partner focused company. In India we operate through 3 distributors, 3 gold partners and 6 silver partners. Over and above this we have around 50 designated Bronze partners with whom we do business on a continuous basis. In India, our distributing partners have presence spanning across almost all major cities of India.

Earlier Check Point was only present with VPN-1 UTM software option that can be installed on customer's choice of hardware. Earlier this year considering the demand from our customers we launched our UTM appliance range. We have been receiving tremendous response to our new product line across the country. Currently we are expanding our authorized channel partner base for our UTM line of business to cater to this rapidly increasing demand.

Do you think, 'Point-Sec' is a tough concept (I mean encryption technology) that solicits intense marketing and awareness drives?

Check Point offers the broadest range of encryption coverage in the industry with support for Windows-based laptops and desktops, Linux-based systems, removable storage media such as USB sticks and CDs, and all popular wireless handhelds on the Microsoft, Symbian and Palm operating systems. The most widely and fastest deployed data protection solution, Pointsec products also offer more and higher industry certifications and broader platform support than any competing solution. Check Point has been positioned by Gartner, Inc. in the leaders in the "Magic Quadrant for Mobile Data Protection, 2007" report.

Using Pointsec Mobile solutions, sensitive information is automatically encrypted and decrypted on the fly, while operating transparently to the end user. The Pointsec Mobile solution is Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) compliant, and comes with added support for the Nokia Intellisync OMA edition solution. In addition, Check Point offers tools for centralized management of all Pointsec-protected devices, including handsets, laptops and desktops. Pointsec Mobile provides protection for all kinds of information, including SMS and E-Mail messages, calendar, Microsoft Word or PowerPoint files, and data on removable media. It supports central management using Pointsec profiles, which enable IT and security management to create, change, and apply the organization's security policies on all mobile users.

Pointsec Mobile 3.1.3 S60 Edition, an updated release of its mobile device security solution, now offering strong data protection and access control for users of the Nokia E90 Communicator handsets, based on the Series 60 platform. Pointsec Mobile S60 edition also supports other Nokia E-series business devices and Nokia N-series multimedia devices based on the S60 platform.

How broad is the security management software portfolio of 'Check-Point'? How important and tactical are the intervention of such security management software in the Indian context?

Today's organizations have a complex security management challenge on their hands. They need to orchestrate a broad range of security technologies to secure their organizations and demonstrate compliance with a host of regulations. And they must do all this within budget, while ensuring business continuity. Check Point security management solutions are designed as an interoperable system based on our unified security architecture. This enables organisations to centrally control security policy across multiple layers of the infrastructure.

Check Point security management solutions provide unified policy management, monitoring, and analysis. It has Security Policy Management and Security Information and Event Management. Check Point leading security policy management solutions centralize policy configuration, monitoring, logging, analysis, and reporting within a single control center-helping you minimize TCO. It includes SmartCenter, Provider-1, SmartPortal, SmartView Monitor and Security Management Portal. Check Point security information and event management (SIEM) products provide centralized, real-time correlation, analysis, and reporting of security events. It includes Eventia Suite, Eventia Analyzer and Eventia Reporter.

How smart are the overall security solutions that the company offers to the verticals like government and defense in India as well?

Check Point solution is the most trusted security for High-Risk Networks. Government and defence organizations require a centrally managed, distributed and responsive policy-based security solution. A solution that can balance the needs of headquarters locations and branch or divisional offices, while still protecting networks, systems, applications and users across all Internet, intranet and extranet communications.

Check Point's solutions deliver on those requirements, enabling government and defence organisations to ensure network resources are available to those who need them, and are protected from those with malicious intent. Most of the critical government and defence organisations across the globe including India are already on Check Point. Our solutions cater to needs of varying customer segments like consumers, Small and Medium Business, Enterprises, Service Providers, Data Centers and Mobile phone operators. These customer segment would belongs to Banking and Financial Services, Telecom, Healthcare, IT services, BPOs, Government, Educational and Manufacturing verticals.

What is the distribution strategy of 'Check-Point' in India? Who are the distributors of 'Check-Point' in the country? What is the total strength of SIs and channel partners of the company in India? Any plans to expand the number of partners in the country?

Check Point has expanded its product portfolio to be the only end to end security solution provider in the market. Check Point has PURE focus on security with its extensive portfolio of network security, data security and security management solutions. Check Point provides service support through our national and global channel partners and distributors.

Check Point is a 100 per cent partner focused company. In India we operate through three distributors, 3 gold partners and six silver partners. Over and above this, we've around 50 designated Bronze partners with whom we do business on a continuous basis. Globally, all billings to Check Point are through its distributing partners. In India, our distributing partners have presence spanning across almost all major cities of India. Currently we are expanding our authorized channel partner base for our UTM line of business.

There are three main distributors in India 'Inflow Technologies', 'Ingram Micro' and 'Select Technologies'. Our Gold partners in India are 'HCL Comnet', ‘Ramco Infotech Solutions’ and ‘Wipro’.

Globally, all billings to Check Point are through its distributing partners. In India, our distributing partners have presence spanning across almost all major cities of India. Currently we are expanding our authorized channel partner base for our UTM line of business.

How sensitive is the company on the issue of partner profitability in India? How receptive are post-sale services of your company in India? On the warranty front how assured and agile is the company?

We enable our partners to move up the value chain, with trainings and certification programs. We also provide them with effective sales tools, extensive information, and cutting-edge security solutions. We attribute our security leadership to our channel partners being recognized as the best in the security industry. Check Point Support programs ensure that our customers have immediate access to critical resources when they need them.

Our ‘direct enterprise support’ provides world-class support for all Check Point products with one comprehensive service contract. Our comprehensive support program offers full range of features and benefits depending on the service level that customers choose. It ranges from just hot fixes and major upgrades to 24/7 support. Check Point collaborative enterprise support combines first-line support from your local Certified Collaborative Support Provider (CCSP) with full back-end support from Check Point. This support program was launched last year as we realised there was a need of local expertise who understand customers specific needs and can provide onsite support, if needed. They are backed by Check Point’s worldwide support teams and in-depth resources 24 hours a day. We also provide direct access to our large, online, self-service knowledgebase to quickly and easily answer your questions and reduce support times and costs.

On the sphere of network security, what are the products the company has been offering in the Indian market? In this respect, where do you find ‘Check-Point’ stranding vis-à-vis a company like Symantec?

With the changing market dynamics the need to protect the infrastructure and data against all threats, infiltration and loss have become the top most concerns for most organized sectors. Indian market has a burgeoning SME segment, with limited budgets, IT skills and resources, SMEs need products that are easy to adopt and maintain. This led to the emergence of integrated security solutions as one of the fastest-growing segments in the SME security market. This market received a boost with entry of Check Point into this space. UTM provides consistent and robust protection for remote sites and is increasingly being used in the SMEs. Central management of UTM solution is a key factor herein. Though these appliances won’t replace specialised point solutions in large enterprises as specific and customised solutions for specific needs are required for comprehensive security in the enterprise segment.

Check Point provides a broad range of security products and services that are open and flexible to fit all types of customer environments, whether that is a small business or a large Fortune 100 company. Check Point products are proven to provide the strongest level of security, across multiple layers of an organizations’ information network: Network security to protect the network infrastructure; data security for ensuring data privacy; superior security management delivering unified policy management, monitoring, and analysis. And all these products are backed with world-class technical resources, research, and response to help you and your customers to stay ahead of threats.

Check Point is a market leader in the worldwide enterprise firewall, personal firewall, data security and VPN markets. Products and technologies that Check Point offers in India includes Network Security, in this category the products is Firewall/ VPN solution that protects the network infrastructure based on a unified security architecture that simplifies management and ensures consistent, up-to-date security everywhere. The other one category is Unified Threat Management (UTM), Based on the same Check Point technologies that secure the Fortune 100, Check Point UTM appliances deliver uncompromising security while streamlining deployment and administration. UTM provides features including firewall, intrusion prevention, antivirus, anti-spyware, Web application firewall, VoIP security, instant messaging (IM) and peer-to-peer (P2P) blocking, and Web filtering, as well as secure site-to-site (IPSec VPN) and remote access connectivity (SSL VPN). The Company do provide intrusion prevention solutions that has precise, real-time attack mitigation, granular forensic analysis, and flexible deployment options, delivered as both dedicated IPS appliances and intrusion prevention that is integrated into Check Point security gateways, providing maximum flexibility and defense-in-depth.

Check Point endpoint security solutions address the risks hackers, worms, spyware, and other threats pose to the internal and remote PCs accessing your network. Our Solutions provide centralized management for easy control of endpoint security, and policy-based enforcement as a sound foundation for Total Access Protection. Company provides Data security also it has PC Disk Encryption, Mobile Device Encryption.- Check Point PC disk encryption products ensure that only authorized parties can access data stored on PCs, and encrypts all information to ensure that lost or stolen data cannot be compromised, Check Point mobile device encryption products secure mobile devices, such smartphones and PDAs via strong encryption of files on the devices, as well as their related memory cards. Company provides ‘Media Encryption and Port Management’ which include port protection that controls the use of all communication ports, such as USB in addition to encryption of removable storage media, such as external hard drives, memory cards, rewriteable CDs, and flash drives.

Check Point security management solutions provide unified policy management, monitoring, and analysis. In this category security policy management solutions centralize policy configuration, monitoring, logging, analysis, and reporting within a single control center-helping you minimize TCO. The other one is security information and event management (SIEM) products that provide centralized, real-time correlation, analysis, and reporting of security events. Check Point security services deliver the technical resources, research and response to help you stay ahead of the threats. Check Point Support programs and plans ensure immediate access to critical resources when required, with services like support programs, security research & response, smart-defense services, professional services and training & certification