Dell: We can beat Cisco in enterprise and cloud security

Dell security strategy calls for optimizing identity management capabilities gained in Quest acquisition

Dell can trump Cisco in the information-technology security market, say Dell's executives in describing how the company with its multifaceted approach will hold an edge against some powerful rivals that also include HP and IBM.

"Cisco is a great competitor, but they don't have our holistic view," said Patrick Sweeney, executive director product management at the Dell SonicWall division which markets firewalls and other security gear as he described a strategy to optimize the identity management assets gained through Dell's acquisition of Quest last September for $2.4 billion. Cisco isn't Dell's only major security competitor — HP and IBM also loom large when it comes to winning large customers. One reason Dell wants to articulate an IT security strategy now is because the company earlier this month announced a buy-out agreement in which Michael Dell and equity investor Silver Lake would acquire Dell for $24.4 billion -- and Dell enterprise customers are eager for information about the implications of this.

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Dell is entering an era where once the company goes private, it won't have to make public statements about its earnings or how its specific product segments are faring. Yesterday, Dell said in its public earnings statement that its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings, which recorded a profit of $530 million, were down from $764 million a year earlier as the company recorded double-digit revenue declines from its personal computer and mobility segments. Its server and networking sales, however, were up about 18%. Dell wouldn't provide guidance for fiscal 2014 since it's expected to go private.

Ellen Messmer is senior editor at Network World, an IDG publication and website, where she covers news and technology trends related to information security. Twitter: MessmerE. E-mail: emessmer@nww.com.

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