Update on Symantec / Veritas split

[HCHTech]

Got the below email recently at one of my customers who used to use SEP. Just FYI.

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Dear Valued Customer,

Why are we writing you?

We're planning important changes at Symantec, and are writing to keep you updated. Our top priority is assuring business continuity with you, our customers, and our partners. Please read on, to understand how changes may have an impact on how we interact.

What's happening?

On October 9, 2014, Symantec Corporation announced plans to separate into two independent businesses - one focused on Information Security, and the other focused on Information Management. We plan to separate the operations of these two businesses in October 2015, which includes the launch of a set of new "Veritas" subsidiaries.

By the end of calendar 2015, we expect to legally separate Symantec and Veritas. For more details about our Separation, please review our Separation announcement. Additional information is available at http://www.symantec.com/about/news/release.

What can you expect?

We're excited about working with you and our partners through the transition, and will share important information on our progress. In addition, we've created our Transition Microsite, a brand new resource for you to access up to the minute information. Please visit it for the latest updates.

As a Symantec Information Security products customer, our Separation will not change how you order, renew, or get support for Symantec Information Security products – for these solutions, please continue to interact with your channel partner and Symantec as you always have.

For Veritas Information Management products, some of our upcoming areas of change may need supporting adjustments to your records and process in order to align with the Veritas businesses once operationally separated (scheduled for October 2015). We are committed to making this transition as seamless as possible for you, with minimal disruption. Additionally, since the majority of our customers engage Symantec through our partners, we encourage you to continue to do so when engaging Veritas.

Here is an overview of key areas to plan for - we'll provide more detailed information as we get closer to the scheduled separation date:

• Buying Program Changes
• Ordering Changes
• Contract Transition
• Additional Transition Support Information

Buying Program Changes for Veritas

To simplify customers' buying experience, Veritas will offer three primary customer Buying Programs for all products and services based on three segments: Corporate, Academic and Government. Customers will make purchases from the pricelist that applies to their business profile.

More information on the details and roll out of Veritas Buying Programs will be available in the coming months.

Ordering Changes

As part of operational separation, Veritas will have new separate ordering systems and processes. When ordering from Veritas, you can expect changes to the SKU structure and Buying Programs for Information Management, as well as changes to ordering and fulfillment processes. The Veritas invoice format and billing process will be enhanced, and we're looking forward to offering customers new Product Licensing and Licensing Portal functionality. Direct-ordering customers can expect additional communications and training in the coming months (timelines below are approximate):

Early August

• Details on Order to Cash policies and processes
  • Ordering and Sales Support contact details
  • Renewals Policies and Process details
• Mapping of Symantec-to- Veritas entity for purposes of post-Separation ordering
  Veritas Vendor Setup Form - without Banking & Remittance Details (we will supply you with our Vendor Setup Form pre-populated with the necessary details to enable you to establish Veritas as a vendor in your systems)

Early September

• Veritas Invoice Format Sample
• Veritas Vendor Setup Form - updated with Banking & Remittance Details
• Veritas Credit Card Merchant I.D. Confirmation
• Veritas Purchasing Email addresses
• Veritas Order Requirements
• Online learning aides

Early October 2015

• Final reminder about new process anticipated in early October
• Banking & Remittance Detail Reminders

Contract Transition

Some customers conduct business under signed contracts with Symantec. For these, our general approach will be to enable these customers to leverage their existing contracts to carry on Information Management business with Veritas after operational Separation. This will be accomplished either by assigning the contract to Veritas, or virtually duplicating it for use with Veritas. In some cases, Symantec will continue to manage the billing and fulfillment of multi-year contracts involving Information Management solutions. Customers will separately receive additional information on the proposed transition of contracts.

Additional Transition Support Information

Please share this information with the appropriate people in your organization. If you have any questions, please refer to our Transition Microsite, your partner, your Account Rep or Symantec Business Support at 1 (800) 721 3934.

We are looking forward to continuing our relationship with both you and our partners, and working closely together through these changes to assure a smooth transition.

Sincerely,

The Symantec and Veritas Separation Team
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[nlinecomputers]

I had not heard this so Backup Exec will end up back under the Veritas label where it started from. So who are they trying to sell it to?

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I had not heard this so Backup Exec will end up back under the Veritas label where it started from. So who are they trying to sell it to?

Backup Exec was actually a product that went through a few different brand owners before Veritas.
I LOVED Backup Exec back when it was sold under Seagate. Nice, simple, quick, reliable.
Backup Exec was under Conner hard drives prior to being under Seagate, in the mid 90's Seagate snapped up Conner.
There was another software company somewhere back then, started with an "A"..that had the name...vaguely remember the boxed product.

But when Veritas bought the product up...they kept it pretty good for a few years, think around versions 7-9 or so.....then SymantSuck snagged it and bloated it to the horrible product it became.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Your thinking Arcada. Now that you reminded me I first used it when it was labeled under Seagate.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Yah that sounds familiar.

Man, now I'm remembering Colorado backup and those old Travan tapes. LOL.

 

[HCHTech]

Oh, man - those Travan tapes were SOLID. You could use them as weapons. I don't know if their solid structure was necessary for their functionality or not, but it was impressive. Maybe that's the image they were going for. They were expensive, and you knew you had something of value in your hand when you handled them. That takes me back. I have no idea, but I'll bet they were made in the states.

 

[HCHTech]

Here is another email I received today....

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Important Update for Customers | View email online

Symantec Announces Sale of Veritas to The Carlyle Group


August 11, 2015

Dear Customer,

Today, Symantec announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Veritas to a group of investors led by The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm with a strong track record of growing businesses. The transaction is expected to close at the end of the year.

We believe this move offers several advantages for both Symantec and Veritas customers.

Strengthened Portfolios

Veritas gains the financial backing of a firm with expertise and resources to accelerate the execution of its strategy and the ability to bring next-generation information management solutions to you even sooner. For Symantec, the financial resources from the sale will allow us to capitalize on the power of our telemetry to give you greater visibility into the threat landscape and paves the way to further expand our enterprise security product and services pipeline.

Smoother Transition

We've spent the past year working to separate our businesses so that each can pursue its own destiny with focused strategies, focused sales forces and focused missions. The sale simplifies the separation process, giving us even greater confidence that we can make this transition as seamless as possible for you.

Ongoing Continuity

There are still several months ahead of us before the sale is closed, but you can be certain that today's announcement doesn't impact our existing product or support strategies or our intention to deliver world-class products and services to market during this time. Additionally, I want to assure you that this transaction will not impact the way we do business together.

You can expect continued updates from us as new information about the separation becomes available. As always, please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

We value your business and thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Mike Brown
Symantec President and CEO




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