Home Business Information

HP (NYSE:HPQ) (Nasdaq:HPQ) today announced an extended lineup of products and services designed to help the full range of its customers address their unique technology security threats.

By building security into its broad portfolio of products, HP is proactively assisting in the defense against the increasing rise in technology-based attacks on consumers, small and mid-size businesses (SMBs), enterprises and public sector customers.

In recognition of International Computer Security Day, HP has joined with industry leaders and channel partners to deliver a host of new security solutions, including:

--an expanded PC Security initiative to raise consumer awareness of security issues and help them protect and clean their systems;

--a range of products and online tools with built-in security features to help shield small and mid-size businesses; and

--new services to help enterprises and public sector customers proactively mitigate security risks.

"While anyone who connects to the Internet shares some common threats from worms and viruses, as technology becomes more complex and widespread, we have seen a rapid increase in threat velocity, meaning that it's more difficult for consumers and administrators to protect their systems," said Tony Redmond, vice president and chief technology officer, HP Services. "With our focused investment in security technology backed up with terrific partnerships, HP is in the unique position of being able to innovate for all of our customer bases. We want security features to be built in - not bolted on - to proactively help defend all types of technology environments, from a home PC to a data center."

The National Cyber Security Alliance, the Department of Homeland Security's designated resource for computer safety information, has found that consumers are largely unaware of the rising security threats they face. And, according to a recent IDC report, the dynamics of security threats and protection strategy vary widely among companies of different sizes.

"Home computer users, small businesses and large enterprises share similar risks when using the Internet," said Matthew Moynahan, vice president, consumer products and solutions, Symantec. "A combination of education on best computing practices that can thwart phishing, fraud and identity theft schemes and integrated security applications that are constantly updated will provide the multi-layer protection to enable all users to take advantage of the power and benefits of the Internet."

(Detailed information about the HP security solutions described below for each customer segment is available in an online press kit at www.hp.com/go/securitynews.)

Safeguarding home PCs

To help consumers defend their PCs, protect their privacy and keep their systems running smoothly, HP is launching its PC Security initiative.

Key elements of the initiative include:

--Dedicated, online security support with one-hour e-mail response time and real-time chat available for no additional charge;

--Virus alert classes held via phone during virus outbreaks for no additional charge; and

--An HP Help and Support Center with performance and security diagnostic software installed on notebooks.

Additional components of the PC Security initiative include awareness and education campaigns, a new PC security website with access to security tools, support and information, and special sales promotions for anti-virus and spyware protection software.

HP has conducted proactive outreach to more than 9 million customers and included a security brochure in the box of every notebook it sells in the United States. HP also provides service alerts to notify consumers of critical security information. The combination of the awareness campaign with the release of Microsoft Windows(R) Service Pack 2 has helped reduce security-related calls to HP's technical support agents by 20 percent from July to October.

Simple security blueprint and new solutions help protect SMB customers HP also unveiled its "layers of security" blueprint, a simple approach to help channel partners and customers easily understand the many levels of protection needed to better protect their small and mid-size businesses before security breaches occur, from threats such as viruses and spyware, spam, intrusion and outdated security.

The blueprint is the realization of one of the primary elements of HP's Smart Office initiative to provide SMB customers with simple, more reliable technology that enhances security. HP and its channel partners are helping SMB customers secure their technology, so they can stay focused on their business.

HP has identified six essential layers of security that help SMBs at every level of exposure, from the server to the PC. Along with its security industry partners, HP is adding new solutions to the existing SMB security portfolio at each layer:

--At the most basic two layers -- physical and data security -- HP is helping customers prevent unauthorized access to and corruption of their data with the expansion of the HP ProtectTools embedded hardware and software portfolio. HP ProtectTools security features help provide protection against unauthorized access to desktops, notebooks, workstations and thin clients, as well as the new HP iPAQ Pocket PC hx2000 series.