Internet Security – An Industry Perspective

Wesley Higaki, Director – University Research

Symantec, a world leader in Internet security technology, provides a broad range of content and network security software and appliance solutions to individuals, enterprises and service providers. The company is a leading provider of virus protection, firewall and virtual private network, vulnerability assessment, intrusion prevention, Internet content and e-mail filtering, and remote management technologies and security services to enterprises and service providers around the world. Symantec's Norton brand of consumer security products is a leader in worldwide retail sales and industry awards.

Symantec employs a variety of technologies to produce this wide range of products including hardware/software appliances. There are also a number of technical challenges to all computer security vendors as networks and systems become faster, larger and more complex.

Symantec is providing leadership into the research of these and new technologies to address the increasing demands for security. The Symantec University Research Program aims to support education and research in the areas of information security.

Bio - Wesley Higaki

Wes Higaki is the director for university research at Symantec Corporation. His responsibilities include developing and supporting university research and education programs in the area of computer security. Symantec’s interest in collaborating with universities is to leverage research results into Symantec products and services as well as to help increase the awareness and knowledge about security issues and technologies. Symantec is a world-leader in providing consumer and enterprise computer security products.

In addition to his responsibilities as director of university research, Wes reports to Symantec’s Chief Technology Officer and leads various task forces across organizational boundaries addressing technical and business issues of corporate-wide concern. On a daily basis, Wes interacts with company executives, customers, and sales, marketing and technical staff members.

Mr. Higaki has over 25 years of technical and managerial experience in the software industry including research and product development experience. He has been with Symantec since the December 2000 acquisition of Axent Technologies where he was an engineering director. Prior to Axent, Wes worked for various divisions at Hewlett-Packard Company including 7 years at Hewlett-Packard Laboratories. He has recruited, hired, managed and developed technical staff members ranging in professional experience from undergraduate interns to 20-year veterans. His technical experience includes development in computer networking, analytical chemistry, manufacturing applications and computer security.

Mr. Higaki received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from the University of California, Davis and a Master of Science degree in computer science from the University of Santa Clara.