A constant theme of our postings on Cloud has been the security issues that customers perceive as so significant in this area. So what about the security issues of delivering security products from the Cloud?

This is the latest development to come along thanks to an agreement between Verizon Business and McAfee. On one side we have a big communications company (Verizon, remember, was formed from Bell Atlantic, GTE and Nynex in the early 2000s) and on the other, one of the two major software security companies. (Originally anti-virus, anti-spam firms, McAfee and Symantec are generally acknowledged as market leaders)

Here is what the suits say in PR speak:
“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", said Kerry Bailey, SV-P Verizon Business global solutions.
“This agreement underscores the importance of delivering comprehensive security solutions to meet the needs of business and government clients,” said David Scholtz, SV-P McAfee worldwide strategic alliances.

As for the Cloud, well those products are still in the offing, apparently. The Cloud gets a plug but it seems we shall have to wait a while to see what appears. On paper it looks good.

There will be a range of security technology stuff including firewalls, intrusion prevention services, anti-malware, content control and Secure Socket Layer (SSL) virtual private network (VPN). The services will be developed by McAfee and managed by Verizon. They look the sort of thing that distributed business may find suitable.

McAfee is strengthening its partner network and support thereof trying to make business with it easier and better rewarded. There will be new rules of engagement. The Verizon arrangement seems to be more in the way of an OEM deal but will Cloud delivery upset McAfee partners?