Jonathan Andresen,
Director Product Marketing,
Asia-Pacific,
Blue Coat Systems, Inc.
How has been the Cloud journey for Blue Coat globally?
Blue Coat has been using cloud computing as one of its core technologies since 2001. Our URL filtering solution is centred on real-time categorization of Web content based on our WebPulse Collaborative Cloud technology. This is our cloud-based, real-time analysis and ratings service and that gives Blue Coat an in-depth insight into web behaviour and web content. WebPulse receives one billion web requests from 75 million users worldwide. Real-time requests come from enterprises and consumers alike via our ProxySG, Blue Coat Cloud Service, K9 and PacketShaper products. ProxyAV also provides feedback into WebPuls about new executables. Collectively, that intelligence helps WebPulse understand what normal web traffic looks like, so it can spot abnormal traffic. Based on this analysis, WebPulse blocks 3.3 million threats per day.
We foresaw some years ago that the enterprise market is heading for the Cloud and started offering Web Security-as-a-Service to our customers. Especially for companies with branch offices, our solutions enable enforcement of consistent policies for mobile users or users in remote locations and branch offices. Cloud security services allow IT to manage data loss and employee productivity risks associated with the social media and other web-based applications for all employees, no matter where they are located or what device they are using. Indeed, a major driver for cloud security is the ubiquity of mobile devices, with the IT Department struggling to manage Web security as mobile users log in from multiple locations for work.
When would you be announcing your Cloud offerings in India?
Currently, Blue Coat offers a Web Security Module for the Blue Coat Cloud Service. It is a scalable, Internet-delivered service that offers the benefits of real-time security that leverages Blue Coat's WebPulse to protect networks against sophisticated malware and virus attacks.
What would be the USPs or market differentiators of your offerings?
Blue Coat can integrate its cloud security services with existing Proxy SG appliances to create a unified Web security architecture. One of the challenges facing the Indian companies is the reluctance to move everything to the Cloud and focus 100 per cent despite challenges with an increasing number of remote and mobile users. What Blue Coat is offering is the ability to extend the same protection to these customers and remote locations via its cloud service (without an appliance), and provide a single unified and scalable interface for easy, efficient management by IT managers.
Another unique differentiator is the granularity of our Web filtering solution that can manage up to over 100 embedded web applications. This allows for complete integration with existing application schemes such as an active directory which utilizes the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) for many different deployment options.
What would be the role of your channel community, then?
India is a key market for us. Blue Coat India has a long-term plan to raise awareness for our brand, products and solutions through a strong focussed corporate and channel marketing strategy. As a wholly channel-focussed company, our strategy is to appoint specialized system integrators in the fields of networking and security, with technical expertise, verticals' strength and a strong customer base. We strive to put our partners at the forefront of the Blue Coat Cloud Service, so we architected it to be a channel-delivered solution. This cloud service gives our partners an opportunity to expand their product portfolio and drive new revenue opportunities.
Who would be the initial target verticals for your Cloud offerings?
As a broader perspective, any multinational India-based companies with distributed branch offices and a mobile workforce is the prospective customer. Going specific in terms of the target industries and verticals, BSFI, retail and logistics, governments and healthcare are amongst the early adopters.
For more :
Syeda Beenish
beenish@varindia.com
