Norton Overhauls Security Suite with All-in-One Solution

Symantec (SYMC) is taking measures against cybersecurity threats by streamlining its portfolio of Norton security products, the company announced. According to the company, the product overhaul is meant to better protect customer assets and eliminate potential customer confusion between solutions.

The new portfolio will narrow the current Norton product portfolio from nine products down to a single new solution, called Norton Security, to give customers easier access to the protection they need across multiple devices. According to Fran Rosch, executive vice president of the Norton Business Unit, the recent spike in online data breaches, including the infamous Target breach and similar breaches at the Barclays’ Center, necessitated the portfolio changes.

“We are making it easier to select and buy the security products you need, and download and maintain them,” said Rosch in a blog. “As cybercriminals and the attacks they launch become more sophisticated, we’re strengthening our advanced threat protection technologies and improving performance across your Android, Windows, Mac and iOS devices.”

Norton Security will be available with or without cloud backup, and combines the features of Norton’s existing product lineup into a single solution. Norton Security is currently in public beta and is expected for release in September and will cost about $80 per year, according to industry estimates. The new product is expected to feature an improved user interface and management features in line with popular offerings such as Netflix and iTunes, according to Rosch. Users also will have the option of subscribing to an optional cloud backup feature for additional protection. Symantec said it will a discontinue some of its standalone legacy products with the new release, including Norton Internet Security, Norton AntiVirus and Norton360.

The new Norton Security is a significant change for solution providers, as it now will be easier to provide customers with turnkey solutions rather than a host of endpoint products. The portfolio change marks Symantec’s move into the security-as-a-service market and the first time that the company hasn’t released a new annual version of its antivirus program since 1991, according to CNET. Last quarter, Symantec reported a $236 million profit on a 2 percent gain in revenue totalling $1.74 billion, with plans to optimize its Norton Business and focus on smartphones and connected devices, according to the Wall Street Journal.