Webroot and Sophos have teamed up for better protection from internet threats in Webroot's consumer and enterprise SpySweeper products.
New Webroot solutions that integrate Sophos' anti-virus research will be available by the end of this year, according to a news release from both companies. Webroot Spy Sweeper products have been available since 2003.
Ron O'Brien, senior security analyst at Sophos, told SCMagazine.com today that the partnership expands his company's reach to home users.
"Sophos has a fair extensive OEM program and a number of leading appliance manufacturers have Sophos' anti-virus engine as part of their offering. But in this case, it will be delivered straight to customers through (Webroot's) online store and selected retailers," he said. "This is really the first time that an enterprise-strength product is going to be available for home use. We look at it as a validation that the engine that drives our product is held in such high regard."
A Webroot spokesperson told SCMagazine.com today that both companies value the quality of their research.
"We made the selection on a number of criteria. We had a six-month long evaluation period of all the different vendors out there and we looked at all the usual suspects. We made the decision on product strength and primarily it came down to the size of the footprint and the performance," he said. "And beyond that there are some natural fits - both of the organizations are very research-centric."
The spokesperson added that Boulder, Col.-based Webroot would make a subsequent product announcement in coming months.
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