Recent IT Outsourcing at Symantec

For those who are not following  Symantec in the past 6 months, you may be in for a surprise that EDS was the appointed outsource vendor for taking over most portions of the IT. Although, the details are a bit sketchy, it is our belief that a minimal IT is being owned by Symantec and the rest of IT services including client services, help desk services, infrastructure management and core business applications management is handed out to EDI.

The following are the lessons we have gathered:

a. There are 3 schools of outsourcing:

1. Outsource business secondary services (helpdesk, client services etc.)

2. Outsource a portion of your growth services (Internal QA, Internal Development for IT)

3. Full-outsource: Outsource everything except Governance (including IT Security), Compliance and Vendor Management

We believe what has hapenned at Symantec is #3 above. It is a fairly large responsibility however, it is very common in Hospital environment.

b. Symantec & EDS are now in a wedlock - it is hard to even imagine looking back

c. We strongly believe, if the company is in either Run or Grow mode (not transform mode), then ‘full-outsource’ may work.

d. EDS does not come cheap however, if Symantec strongly believes in ‘Grow’ mode, maybe IT was a distraction (I know, I can’t believe I am saying it).

e. Company employees would have to be transitioned in various packages however, it may be hard to build a team ever again to build out IT - so skeletal team within above areas and ‘hard to find’ liaison people would have to be retained.

5 Responses to “Recent IT Outsourcing at Symantec”

  1. Nicholas King Says:

    There is a rapid growth of Outsorcing these days as manufactures try to cut cost and maximize profit.”,`

  2. nando sugawa Says:

    There are sometimes the company want to cut of the difficulty in IT services. Especially in term of finding the best practice in focusing in its company mission and vision.
    So the best way to just focusing in primary line of business is using the IT outsourcing. With this strategy they hope that they could still look at the right and also look at the left at the same time.

    Thank You

  3. Fauzi Suroyo Says:

    I agree with you that everything that have a relation with security, we should manage ourselves. So, its very important for us to define, which sector is should have outsource, and which sector is manage by ourselves (insourcing)

  4. Jasmine Ward Says:

    outsourcing is always essential to businesses coz it helps reduce the cost of production,;”

  5. Bar Fridge  Says:

    outsourcing is essential if you want to increase your profit margin and efficiency,”"

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