Symantec chief finds Cisco "a little bit ironic"

We always tend to think Juniper vs. Cisco or Nortel (and going way back, Bay Networks ) vs. Cisco or even IBM and Microsoft vs. Cisco , but Symantec CEO John Thompson reminds us in this Q&A from the recent RSA Conference that there's also Symantec vs. Cisco.

Here's how Thompson replied to this question:  Cisco just announced a partnership with EMC's RSA division to make use of the data-loss prevention technology based on Tablus, a company RSA acquired last year. Any comment on that?

It's a little bit ironic. Cisco had a wonderful and profitable relationship with [data-loss prevention vendor] Vontu before we bought them. Cisco was a Vontu reseller. It shows Cisco would rather work with anyone other than Symantec. Cisco has a philosophical point of view that if you compete with me, you can't partner with me.

Touchy, touchy. Is Cisco really that unfriendly? 

• Cisco
• Symantec
• Vontu