CA, Ernst & Young team on security consulting

by Sam Costello

April 22, 2002 —

Hoping to increase its market share among Fortune 1000 companies, Computer Associates International Inc. (CA) Monday announced a partnership with Ernst & Young LLP that will see the companies work together on security and risk management issues.

Under the partnership, Ernst & Young's Security & Technology Solutions practice will use CA's eTrust line of security products in its consulting, and the two companies will assign staff to work within the other's company, said Kurt Seibert, senior vice president at CA, which is based in Islandia, New York. The Ernst & Young employees working within CA will work in the company's labs and be closely tied to product development, he said.

CA was interested in pursuing such a relationship because "Ernst and Young (has) very good relationships in audit departments and security departments," Seibert said. "They can influence the selection of our products."

The relationship is part of a long-term partnership between the two companies that will provide "one-stop shopping for our clients," said Mark Doll, Americas director for Security and Technology Solutions at Ernst & Young. New York-based Ernst & Young found that many of the companies that it already provides services for, or is targeting as potential clients, use CA software, so it made sense to work with the company, Doll said.

Ernst & Young selects products from five companies, of which CA is one, in its enterprise tier, when making product and consulting recommendations to its largest clients, he said.

CA is convinced that teaming with such a large player in security consulting will expand and deepen the company's market penetration, Seibert said.

Both companies have strong reputations in the enterprise security market, he said.

"When you team (these companies) together," he said, "it is a very difficult team to beat."

IDG News Service