Raytheon|Websense Breaks Into Enterprise Market with Syntel Partnership

Syntel is diving headfirst into cybersecurity, inking a partnership with defense giant Raytheon|Websense to bring forensics and analytics tools to large enterprise customers.

The Troy, Mich.-based company, No. 36 on the CRN Solution Provider 500, will be one of Raytheon|Websense's few integration partners as the vendor looks to bring its SureView family of cybersecurity products from the public sector to the Forbes Global 2000, Syntel CEO Nitin Rakesh told CRN.

"We're adding another arrow in our quiver," Rakesh said. "This is a tremendous opportunity."

[Related: Report: Bain-Backed Outsourcing Firm Looking To Buy Syntel]

Rakesh considers Raytheon to be best in class, and said the SureView product line will provide Syntel with more robust capabilities around the burgeoning cybersecurity sector. SureView can detect and analyze threat movement, according to Syntel, and provides forensics tools that help with assessing damage and remediating the attack.

"Raytheon needs no introduction to our businesses," Rakesh said. "This is a good way to bring our capabilities together."

Syntel had been looking to get into cybersecurity after high-profile data breaches made it a top priority in many of its clients' C-suites, Rakesh said.

"We thought this was the right time," he said. "It's only natural that we will create and expand."

Syntel had been in talks for several months about partnering with Raytheon, Rakesh said, with its acquisition of Websense not factoring into Syntel's decision to consummate a deal. Raytheon acquired security software maker Websense for $1.9 billion April 20, bolstering its content filtering, anti-malware protection and data leakage prevention capabilities.

Syntel will provide end-to-end implementation, customization and integration services around SureView products, Rakesh said. The solution provider, though, will really set itself apart through its knowledge of several private sector verticals and understanding of the business applications and vulnerabilities these customers face, he said.

"Since we live in an application world, we need to find the right way to secure their applications," Rakesh said.

Although most of Syntel's implementation and integration work around Raytheon|Websense will consist of one-time projects, Rakesh said, the company will have the chance to develop recurring revenue streams with its work around maintenance, upgrades and interface enhancements.

Syntel is initially planning to extend the protection to existing clients, Rakesh said, but would eventually like to pursue new customers interested in the SureView bundle.

Rakesh said Syntel expects to see demand for Raytheon|Websense products from all of its core verticals: banking, financial services, health care, insurance and retail. Syntel's major clients include American Express, State Street Bank, Humana and FedEx.

Syntel plans down the road to build intellectual property around the Raytheon|Websense offering and connections to other core products once it develops more expertise around the SureView bundle, he said.

Rakesh said he is unsure if Syntel will pursue partnerships with other cybersecurity vendors down the road, though he said the company is focused for now on integrating Raytheon|Websense into its portfolio.

PUBLISHED JUNE 17, 2015