Symantec provides first Anti-Virus Administration Solution for the Microsoft Management Console

TORONTO -- June 15, 1998 -- Symantec Corporation (Nasdaq: SYMC), the worldwide leader in utilities and anti-virus, has announced Norton System Centre (NSC), which offers network administrators flexible software administration and maintenance.

The first release of Norton System Centre supports the Norton AntiVirus. Subsequent releases will support other Symantec products such as Norton Utilities, Norton Your Eyes Only and pcANYWHERE, making Norton System Centre a single administrative solution for distributing, reporting and alerting across a range of Symantec products.

The software allows network administrators to easily and automatically deploy, configure, monitor, update and comprehensively manage Symantec software. Norton System Centre is the first anti-virus administration solution integrated into the highly flexible console framework provided by the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) version 1.0. Symantec also plans to integrate Norton System Centre into Tivoli TME's network management framework.

"Symantec understands that network administrators have a difficult job," says Enrique Salem, vice president of Symantec's Security and Assistance Business Unit. "As a result, one of the most important criteria for evaluating corporate software is ease of administration and maintenance. With our solution, you now have the power and reliability of Symantec software, with unprecedented administrative ease."

"Symantec has consistently demonstrated its visionary approach to answering customers' demands for anti-virus, security, and utilities software solutions, and we are pleased that it is continuing to provide cutting-edge technology through its support of our Zero Administration Windows (ZAW) initiative through Norton System Centre," adds Mike Nash, director of marketing for Windows NT, Microsoft Corp. "Integrating into MMC will help organisations lower their desktop administration costs, by providing centralised management of their desktop and server environment."

Centralised Management
IS and network managers can use Norton System Centre to reduce the costly overhead typically associated with installing, updating and upgrading software, including virus definition updates. Administrators no longer have to go from system to system installing software to both servers and workstations. Norton System Centre consolidates critical administration tasks into a single convenient console, thereby providing a cost-effective yet secure alternative to manual network administration.

The software’s administration capabilities are based on agents which reside on target systems. These agents increase the automation of distribution of products, definitions, and configuration settings, thereby decreasing work for the administrator.

MMC Integration
Unlike its competitors, Norton System Centre uses a common console framework and is the first anti-virus administration solution to be implemented inside the Microsoft Management Console (MMC). MMC gives IS managers a well-integrated, easy-to-use management console. MMC is part of Microsoft's Zero Administration Windows effort and will be built directly into Windows NT 5.0.

Open Standards Database
Norton System Centre also uses a standard database to collect and store critical alert information coming from workstations and servers supported by Norton System Centre. By using an open-standards database, the software enables administrators to create their own reports using their own set of applications and tools.

Other Features
The software is built upon the highly successful Norton Software Distribution Utility 2.0. The product uses the Norton System Centre Scheduler to provide centralised and automatic LiveUpdate capabilities. LiveUpdate packages are brought down to the Norton System Centre console from the Symantec site and are distributed to client systems on a scheduled basis.

Norton Event Manager includes event processing and centralised alerting capabilities. Administrators can forward alerts from Symantec products to one or more Windows NT servers. Administrators can send SNMP alerts to third-party alerting systems, such as Tivoli TME or HP OpenView.

Norton System Centre currently provides agent support for Windows NT 3.51/4.0 server and workstation; Windows 95 and Windows 98; NEC PC-98, one of the dominant platforms in Japan; and NT Alpha systems. Support for NetWare servers as well as Lotus Notes will be available at the end of the year.

Price and Availability
Norton System Centre is available now. It is included on the Symantec Norton AntiVirus Solutions CD and will be incorporated into other Symantec solution suites in the future. Policy holders of Norton AntiVirus Upgrade Insurance will automatically receive it as part of this program.

Pricing for Norton System Centre is included in the license-based pricing of Symantec's Norton AntiVirus Solution and suite based pricing. The Microsoft Management Console version 1.0 is also included on the Norton AntiVirus Solutions CD.

Requirements
Norton System Centre console requires an Intel system running Windows NT 4.0 workstation or server with Service Pack 3 or higher, Microsoft Management Console version 1.0 or higher, 64MB of RAM minimum, 11MB of free hard disk space (an additional 32MB or greater is required for the product repository), and Microsoft Internet Explorer version 3.01 or higher.

Norton System Centre client agents require a system with 8MB of RAM minimum and 200KB of free hard disk space. Operating Systems supported are Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT Workstation 3.51 (with SP5) or 4.0 (with SP3), and Windows NT Server 3.51 (with SP5) or 4.0 (with SP3). Platforms supported are Intel, Alpha, and NEC PC-98. Support for additional Operating Systems and platforms are planned for future releases of Norton System Centre

About Symantec in Canada:
With 250 employees, Symantec’s Canadian operations are headquartered in Toronto with offices in Montréal, Ottawa and Vancouver. For information on Symantec products or current promotions, contact the Canadian office at (416) 441-3676 or access the World Wide Web

About Symantec
Symantec Corporation helps make users productive and keep their computers safe and reliable anywhere and anytime. Symantec offers a broad range of solutions and is acclaimed as a leader in both customer satisfaction and product brand recognition. The company is focused on addressing customer needs in three main application areas: the Norton product line of anti-virus and PC-assistance products; the pcANYWHERE, WinFax and ACT! product lines that cater to remote user productivity; and the Café product lines in Internet development tools.

Founded in 1982, the company's global operations span North America, Europe, Japan and several fast growing markets throughout Asia Pacific and Latin America. Traded on Nasdaq under the symbol SYMC, Symantec Corporation is based in Cupertino, California and employs more than 2,000 people. Information on the company and its products can be obtained by calling (800) 441-7234 toll free, (541) 334-6054 or accessed on the World Wide Web.

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Brands and products referenced herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. All prices noted are in US dollars.