Monday, 28 July 2008

Sophos Expands Managed Web Security Appliance

Sophos, last week unveiled an enhanced version of its managed WS1000 web security appliance that’s aims to significantly improve IT’s ability to keep pace with evasive end-user tools, and the latest threats to security and compliance.

Offered as a free and automatic upgrade, the new features include multi-layer protection against anonymizing proxies, HTTPS scanning, and a host of end-user enforcement and reporting improvements to one of the industry’s most comprehensive solutions.

A recent research report from Sophos highlights the worsening state of security on the web.

SophosLabs today finds an average of one new malware-infected webpage every five seconds – a threefold increase over 2007 – with 90 % of compromised pages being found on legitimate sites.

Exacerbating the situation for IT are tools such as anonymizing proxies that allow users to circumvent URL filtering controls. This is particularly prevalent and problematic in the educational sector, where students often resist controls, aren’t easily deterred, and have advanced knowledge of web technologies. In this environment, IT departments in educational institutions are still held to strict guidelines to protect students from exposure to inappropriate or unsafe content.

“Web threat authors are one step ahead of traditional filtering solutions leaving most businesses underprotected today,” said Chris Kraft, vice president of product management, Web Security and Control at Sophos.

“With the Sophos web appliance, and in particular this latest release, organizations can reclaim time and control over web usage and be assured they are protected against the latest threat trends and productivity drains.”