Symantec Revamps Certification Programme

Simplifies certification process, recognises vendor-neutral certifications

Hong Kong -- 30 June 2003 - Symantec, the world leader in Internet security, today announced that it has revamped its certification programme to better support the needs of its partners. The new programme recognises vendor-neutral industry certifications, shortening the time it takes a partner to become certified while still ensuring that customers receive the highest level of certified security expertise.

"With the growing number of vendor-specific certifications, partners are being asked to prove their core security skills over and over again," said Daniel Schneersohn, Senior Director of Enterprise Channel Sales & Global Strategic Alliances, Asia Pacific, Symantec. "Recognising that vendor-neutral security certifications are proof of a partner's overall security knowledge, we revised our programme to accept these certifications. Our programme now focuses on testing a partner's knowledge of Symantec's strategy and solutions."

To streamline the certification programme Symantec reduced the number of Symantec product specific testing into four security segment exams, covering Symantec firewall and VPN technologies, Symantec vulnerability management technologies, Symantec intrusion detection technologies, and Symantec virus protection and content filtering technologies.

A passing grade on the appropriate Symantec security exams, plus one of the approved vendor-neutral certifications enables a partner to earn Symantec certification credentials at one of four different levels:

-- A Symantec Product Specialist (SPS) demonstrates general security knowledge with one Symantec exam coupled with the Security+ certification from CompTIA or the System Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) certification from (ISC)2.

-- A Symantec Certified Security Engineer (SCSE) demonstrates technical security knowledge with one Symantec exam coupled with the complementary SANS Global Information Assurance Certifications (GIAC). Accepted GIAC certifications include the GIAC Firewall Analyst, GIAC Incident Handler, GIAC Intrusion Analyst and GIAC Windows Security Administrator.

-- A Symantec Technology Architect (STA) demonstrates consultant-level security knowledge with one Symantec exam paired with one of the following vendor-neutral certifications: ISC2's Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), ASIS' Certified Protection Professional (CPP), ISACA's Certified Information Systems

Auditor (CISA), TruSecure's TISCA Certified Security Associate, or CIW's Security Analyst certification.

-- A Symantec Certified Security Practitioner (SCSP) is a senior security consultant who has passed two Symantec exams and has one of the following vendor-neutral certifications: ISC2's Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), one of the four Symantec-approved SANS' GIAC, ASIS' Certified Protection Professional (CPP), ISACA's Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), TruSecure's TISCA Certified Security Associate, or CIW's Security Analyst certification.

"It's encouraging to see Symantec responding to partner feedback by taking the lead to streamline its certification process," said Thomas Lee, Global Infrastructure Practice Director, Greater China of Unisys China/Hong Kong Ltd. "Recognising vendor-neutral certifications as exemptions of the programme requirements avoids duplicated effort on certifying our security consultants who are already qualified as CISAs and CISSPs. In return, it greatly reduces examination and potential classroom time which expedites the certification process, and facilitates consultants to focus more in the field to better serve our customers."

Furthering its commitment and support of partners, Symantec is rolling out free instructor-led training to Enterprise Security Partner and Enterprise Solutions Partners. As part of the Symantec Partner Programme Enterprise Security Partners are required to have two Symantec Certified Security Engineers (SCSE), certified in two different categories, on staff and Enterprise Solutions Partners must have one SCSE.

Partners who have already achieved Symantec certifications will remain certified under the new programme. All certifications are valid for 24 months from the date earned.

For more information about the Symantec Certification Program and a listing of current classes, please visit http://www.symantec.com/education/index.html

About Symantec
Symantec, the world leader in Internet security technology, provides a broad range of content and network security software and appliance solutions to individuals, enterprises and service providers. The company is a leading provider of client, gateway and server security solutions for virus protection, firewall and virtual private network, vulnerability management, intrusion detection, Internet content and e-mail filtering, remote management technologies and security services to enterprises and service providers around the world. Symantec's Norton brand of consumer security products is a leader in worldwide retail sales and industry awards. Headquartered in Cupertino, Calif., Symantec has worldwide operations in 36 countries. For more information, please visit www.symantec.com.

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