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In 2011, Symantec rebranded its Symantec Hosted Services (formerly MessageLabs) to Symantec.cloud, increased headcount in India and Singapore, and added client services managers to expand its support services in key industries such as banking and financial services.

Besides rolling out ClientNet customer interface further in Asia Pacific, Symantec.cloud adopted a more channel-centric marketing strategy, with a focus on the small and medium business (SMB) market.

In the following interview with Asia Cloud Forum, Symantec.cloud’s North Asia Client Services Manager Harry Pun (pictured) speaks about the company’s deployment of cloud-based security solution for SingTel, why he sees Salesforce.com as the most impressive cloud-based solution as compared to other CRM Software-as-a-Service, as well as the data security risks that SMBs are facing.

Harry Pun: One of the most interesting deployments of 2011 was probably SingTel. The [Singapore-based] carrier launched its PowerON Security suite of cloud-based cyber security solutions and services for businesses, using its own cloud computing capabilities and Symantec’s cloud security solutions and services.

The timing is critical because, according to Symantec’s 2011 State of Security Survey, 20% of Singapore businesses have incurred over US$100,000 in expenses from attacks within the last year. PowerON Security, which is backed by Symantec’s technologies, assures enterprises of comprehensive protection without restricting how, where and when employees work remotely.

SingTel PowerON Security offers enterprises comprehensive on demand protection from viruses, malware, spam and other online threats to allow employees to access email, company servers and the Internet securely, whether they are in the office or on the move. The solutions can also provide automatic security updates to protect employee laptops, desktop computers and servers, and will soon be enhanced to include tablets and smartphones.  

Other than your company’s, what do you see as the most impressive cloud solution or product or deployment found in the market in 2011?

Pun: The success of Salesforce.com has been impressive. They are a true, cloud computing business and a major player in the on-demand, cloud-based enterprise software market, competing very well with longer and much more established industry giants such as Oracle, SAP and Microsoft.

In fact, CRM (customer relationship management) in the cloud is probably one of the biggest and fastest moving opportunities in the industry.

Pun: The most important lesson this year is that people are still very confused about what cloud computing is and what it can do. Certainly, there is a realization that the cloud is now more than a buzzword, but there is a definite lack of understanding when it comes to defining cloud computing -- or more accurately the different types of cloud computing -- and determining which one makes the most sense for what kind of business.