In the Internet Service Provider business segment, F-Secure is making solid gains, not least because the products and services it delivers are a good fit but also because they are ahead of themselves in terms of the competition, innovation and the requirements of the industry. In its forthcoming product release for ISPs, F-Secure Service Platform for Businesses, F-Secure opens another arena for data security provision for the ISP market.
Industry analyst Gartner stated that software as a service would become the model of choice by 2008 and this trend can be seen developing quickly in the data security world. F-Secure for its part has been in the vanguard of this trend with the development of its F-Secure Service Platform for Businesses, which is a unique security service solution for small and medium businesses to be sold through Internet Service Providers. The concept has been developed as an initiative created by F-Secure's existing ISP partners. After consultation with all players in the value chain from ISPs to SMB end-customers, F-Secure established that a certain gap of security services in the market existed for customers of ISPs - specifically the small to medium-sized business segment.
The result of this collaboration is a unique data security service for small to medium sized businesses ranging from five to tens and even up to hundreds of personnel, which will be available to the ISP market globally by the end of Q4. The technology upon which this is based is the award-winning F-Secure Client Security software with a complete set of security components and capabilities required to protect the typical SMB desktop environment. This service solution is completed with a web-based management application that gives visibility and the ability to manage and control one's PC network.
F-Secure Service Platform for Businesses is well suited for SMBs with effective and flexible license management, predefined profiles, extensive reporting and easy problem solving. F-Secure Service Platform for Businesses is co-branded and customized, which makes it easy for ISPs to add it into their product portfolio.
The service itself corresponds closely to the needs of these SMB customers who often lack the budget and necessary skills to maintain an effective data security service from within and are looking for a one-stop shop to provide such. In this regard, the service is extremely comprehensive including antivirus protection, antispyware, Internet shield, antispam and web filtering.
From the ISP's point of view, the new service offers a new potential value added revenue stream at a time when increased competition in the broadband market is driving prices down and increasing churn. F-Secure Service Platform for Businesses enables Security as a Service provision as a manageable turnkey solution that enables ISPs to offer true security services and at the same time reducing the load created by support call provisions and related costs. In this way they can concentrate on improving customer relationship management and loyalty.
Customers for their part enjoy an easy to use, flexible, subscription-based solution that flexibly matches the needs of a SMB customer. The business model which F-Secure offers allows for the purchase of a single keycode as opposed to multiple keycodes. This enables flexible license management, which a company is free to expand or contract according to its need.
ISPs choosing the F-Secure business model also enjoy high status overview thanks to its multi-layer structure enabling effective customer care and reduced support calls. Whether providing the service through sales partners or direct to the end user, ISPs are able to retain full control of data security provision.
F-Secure believes it has identified a business niche for ISPs that will result in a significant revenue stream at a time when business is increasingly competitive. No other data security provider has been able to offer such a comprehensive package delivered with such a business flexible approach. F-Secure also believes that the future of data security provision is in service and the benefits of such a service will quickly become apparent to both ISPs and their customers.
Author: Riikka Jakovuori
Business Development Manager, F-Secure Service Platform for Businesses
F-Secure Corporation
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