Spanish security software vendor, Panda Software, has expanded its global presence by opening offices in six new emerging market territories, including South Africa. The other countries are Brazil, Ecuador, El Salvador, Pakistan and Ukraine, bringing to 54 the number of countries in which the firm is now represented.
"We are pushing forward with our policy to `Think globally, act locally`," explains Ainhoa Aguirre, MD of the Panda Software Group. "Our franchise model has allowed us to expand out international presence fairly rapidly and we aim to open three further offices in 2006: Australia, Ireland and the Czech Republic."
The South African operation is headed by country manager and franchise holder, Jeremy Matthews, who has set up headquarters in Cape Town and is establishing a branch in Johannesburg.
"The security threat to important business and personal data is constantly evolving and it is critical to get solutions to market quickly. Panda has that capacity through its research facility, PandaLabs, which is now effectively at the disposal of the local market."
According to recent Gartner research, Panda is ranked the second most popular security software brand in Europe. This recognition was complemented at CeBit in March, when Panda`s TruPrevent intrusion prevention technologies received the `CeBit Highlights` award for the best software from the German magazine Chip.
In February, Panda Titanium 2006 Antivirus + Antispyware was acclaimed best security solution by the Dutch magazine Webwereld, in a comparative review carried out by Data Test Labs, one of the most important security laboratories in the Benelux countries. In addition, Platinum 2006 Internet Security was named Best Buy by the Dutch national consumer organisation magazine De Digital Consument, ahead of nine other solutions.
Panda Platinum 2006 Internet Security was also a finalist for Product of the Year in the US. "This hot new product from Panda Software wraps your business systems with a bullet-proof vest," declares Small Business Technology Magazine. Panda Platinum 2006 has "everything you need to protect PCs, even your entire network, from vicious spyware, viruses and other threats".
New security solutions
Panda has recently released a new range of corporate security solutions, Panda EnterpriSecure 2006 and BusinesSecure 2006, both featuring with TruPrevent Technologies. Aimed at SMBs and large enterprises, these new solutions offer integrated protection (anti-virus, anti-spam, anti-spyware, personal firewall, proactive technologies, etc) which is optimised to achieve the best protection with the lowest resource usage, in both workstations and servers.
Panda has also strengthened its GateDefender 8000 series range of security appliances with the launch of the new GateDefender Performa line, which offers complete protection against viruses, spyware, Trojans, hackers, phishing, spam and inappropriate Web content.
"We will also launch new security services for xSPs and new tools to combat online fraud and targeted attacks, to name just of few of these innovations. 2006 is going to be a truly challenging year for the company, which constantly strives to satisfy the demands of all our clients," says Matthews.
PandaLabs combats cyber-crime
The malware dynamic is changing. Now creators of viruses and other threats do not seek fame, but financial gain. This has resulted in new and dangerous threats that cause silent, contained and invisible epidemics, such as those caused by Sircam, CodeRed and the like.
"This shift has meant that our virus and threat analysis laboratory, PandaLabs, is focusing more on investigating this new trend," explains Matthews. "Application of forensic investigation techniques are already starting to return results, such as the dismantling of a business based on selling made-to-measure Trojans."
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