Dell and Symantec have partnered on an e-mail and instant messaging hardware and software offering designed to reduce information technology risk.

The partnership, titled Secure Exchange, is built on Dell/EMC storage gear, Dell PowerEdge servers and Symantec Mail Security for Microsoft Exchange, Enterprise Vault and Symantec IM Manager.

Pricing is based on a per seat basis and backed up through Dell's Platinum Plus and Gold Enterprise Support offerings.

Anton Lee, director of Symantec strategic alliances for Asia Pacific and Japan, said the partnership is designed to help customers take control of e-mail and reduce enterprise IT risk through tighter e-mail and instant messaging (IM) security.

"As e-mails continue to be a critical business application, and IM grows in popularity as a tool to enable real time collaboration, customers want the tools to manage their environments more effectively so that they can concentrate on business growth and customer service," Lee said.

Damian Crotty, director of enterprise for Dell Asia Pacific, said Secure Exchange is designed to take the time and complexity out of deploying a secure, reliable IM and Microsoft Exchange environment with extensive archiving capabilities.

"With this solution, customers can effectively strengthen the security, availability and scalability of their messaging environments, including public and enterprise IM networks," Crotty said. "Dell and Symantec are bringing together deeply integrated hardware, software and services solutions to help customers regain control of rapidly changing Information Exchange environments."