Trend puts Symantec behind rivals

Symantec acquisition met with criticism

Symantec has been slammed by Trend Micro

Trend Micro has slammed Symantec’s acquisition of MessageLabs, arguing the move shows it has been reduced to a copy-and-paste vendor playing catchup with its
leaner rivals.

Symantec tabled a $695m (£396m) bid for UK-based MessageLabs earlier this month. The acquisition, which is expected to close by the end of the year, is designed to bolster the giant’s position in the software-as-a-service space, which analyst IDC believes will grow from $5.71bn in 2007 to $17bn in 2012.

But Anthony O’Mara, EMEA vice president of sales at Trend, said: “Symantec now realises it needs to move security into the cloud, but has had to acquire because it is playing catchup.

“Five years ago Symantec was doing groundbreaking things. If I was a channel partner I would question whether Symantec would help me be at the cutting edge, or whether it is just a copy-and-paste vendor.”