Verizon, McAfee ink strategic alliance

Verizon Business and McAfee, the world's largest dedicated security technology company, have announced a global strategic alliance to provide integrated security solutions to businesses and government agencies worldwide.

Verizon is a leading global provider of IT, communications, security and network solutions.

Through this agreement, Verizon Business will offer McAfee's entire line of enterprise security products and services while McAfee taps Verizon Business' data center outsourcing and expert consulting and managed services capabilities, said a top official.

"This strategic agreement with McAfee enables us to drive even more complete and integrated IT solutions to enterprises across the world," said Kerry Bailey, senior vice president of Verizon Business global solutions.

Additionally, the companies will jointly develop a suite of next-generation, cloud-based managed security services.

The agreement between Verizon Business and McAfee extends significant value to enterprise clients by providing comprehensive world-class security solutions and services, including new cloud-based offerings, he noted.

Building on both companies' success in technology and security, McAfee and Verizon Business can deliver solutions that effectively meet enterprise and government security challenges ahead, especially as more communications functions move to the "cloud," or network, to take advantage of faster implementation, enhanced security and lower costs.

"Verizon Business will be able to expand and more fully touch every facet of enterprise security so that enterprises can confidently do business in this digital age. Our newly expanded and next-generation cloud capabilities will enable organizations to better use security as a strategic tool and business enabler," Bailey added.

David Scholtz, senior vice president of worldwide strategic alliances at McAfee, said the agreement underscores the importance of delivering comprehensive security solutions to meet the needs of business and government clients.

"The complexities of today's threats and turbulent economic times call for agreements of this kind where products from multiple providers are combined to help improve our customers' investments and control their operational costs," he added.