Symantec and Parallels Join Hands to Simplify Website Security And Safe E-Commerce For Small And Medium Businesses

Symantec, leader of information security and Parallels, renowned for its cloud hosting services, recently declared their collaboration to help service providers and website developers to increase their revenue with an immensely uncomplicated process for customers to get Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificates and other online security solutions. This improved version of Parallels Plesk® Panel allows the service providers to offer Symantec Easy SSL, a complete Website Security suite which incorporates GeoTrust and Thawte along with other Symantec brands to give their users a secure e-commerce solution. This solution is desirable to Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) looking to offer more secure connections, transactions to protect their customers from malware risks. Parallels Plesk Panel has removed the manual aspect from the process of placing orders, getting and deploying Symantec-issued SSL certificates, making it easier for hosts and Service Providers to resell, provision and track the money generated from SSL orders. This tool was exhibited at the Parallels APAC Summit in Singapore just last week.

“Security is essential for providing a true complete e-commerce site solution”

Parallels, as the international market leader in Web server management and control panels, joined forces with security technology giant Symantec to create an easy to resell and install SSL certificate and website security tool that is now a part of Parallels Plesk Panel. Parallels partnered with Symantec due to its vast experience as one of the most popular company that offers SSL certificates, with around 800,000 SSL certificates issued all over the world and 65% of Extended Validation (Green Bar) certificates as per the July 2012 Netcraft report. Symantec’s Norton Secured Seal is the most widely-accepted and trusted seal on the Internet, and offers thorough and strict SSL security and Certificate Authority policies as well as 24/7 customer support.

“Symantec and Parallels are keenly aware of the vast and growing potential to sell hosted and cloud services to the SMB market through the service provider and hosting channel,” explained Fran Rosch, Vice President of Identity and Authentication Services, Symantec. “This alliance enables us to provide a greatly simplified SSL certificate solution for this channel that will make it easier for their SMB customers to communicate and transact securely.”

“Parallels remains laser focused on creating revenue-driving opportunities for our partners, while addressing the issues that keep their SMB customers from adopting cloud and other hosted services,” John Zanni, Vice President of Marketing and Alliances, Parallels, said. “Symantec’s leading security technology will further strengthen the ability of our partners to create, market and sell bundles of in-demand applications and services, such as a complete and secure e-commerce solution.”

Parallels Turn-Key Solutions Aim to Offer Safe Online Transactions

SSL certificates provide a considerable market opportunity for hosts and web development companies looking to offer their clients the comprehensive suite of essential services for allowing and securing e-commerce websites. In a recent U.S. online consumer study carried out by Symantec, 90 percent of the participants said they discontinue online transactions upon getting browser warnings regarding the lack of a secure connection. Apart from SSL certificates, website owners also need online storefront and shopping cart capabilities, along with a secure vendor/payment processing account – particularly in transactions that don’t involve credit cards.

The new Symantec SSL certificate tool, which is a part of Parallels Plesk Panel, addresses a significant component that guarantees the safety and integrity of the other requirements. The Symantec SSL certificate integration is also being offered along with Parallels Payment Network, a comprehensive suite of services for Service Providers and website developers who want to provide turn-key solutions for SMB clients looking to launch or permit e-commerce websites. Apart from Symantec’s automated SSL certificate processing, Parallels Payment Network also incorporates topnotch PCI-compliant e-commerce solutions from Chase Paymentech (merchant accounts for North America) and Pinnacle Cart (online storefront/shopping cart services).

“Security is essential for providing a true complete e-commerce site solution,” Mike Auger, CEO of Pinnacle Cart, said in a statement. “We have been collaborating with Symantec for years and we are extremely excited that they have been added to the Parallels Payment Network. This combination of e-commerce services – all without any start-up costs – makes the Parallels Payment Network the smart choice for service providers and website designers seeking to grow their revenues by reselling a turn-key, complete e-commerce site solution.”

As a result of the integration of Symantec’s Website Security Solutions into Parallels Plesk Panel, Symantec now provides the widest portfolio of integrated security solutions across Parallels’ portfolio of hosting and cloud services. Parallels now allows service providers to offer SMB customers applications including Symantec.cloud Email, Endpoint Protection, EV.Cloud Archiving, Symantec Website Security and Norton consumer solutions, while remaining within their budget.

About Parallels

Parallels is an industry leader known for its cloud services and desktop virtualization. Since its beginning in 1999, Parallels has expanded to having over 900 employees all over the world.

More information can be found on www.parallels.com/spp, follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ParallelsCloud and Like Us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ParallelsCloud.

About Symantec

Symantec is well-known for offering security, storage and systems management solutions so that its clients can satisfactorily protect and manage their data. Their software and services provide complete security against the various risks, allowing the clients to be confident in the integrity and safety of their critical data. For further information, please visit www.symantec.com.