Trend Micro's ScanMail allows MS Exchange Server customers to benefit from improved messaging security, content management

Secure Data, a member of the JSE-listed ERP.com Group, and the southern African distributor for Trend security software, today announced the availability of its latest version of Trend MicroScanMail for Microsoft Exchange, version 6.2, in support of Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 and Windows 2003.

In an ever-increasingly connected world, customers migrating to Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 may benefit immediately from the enhanced security and management features found in ScanMail for Microsoft Exchange version 6.2, the one of the first anti-virus product of its kind certified for the Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 platform.

Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 promises greater productivity through faster migrations and deployment, and greater connectivity through support for mobile-devices that can securely browse Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 mailboxes. Due to the constant threats of new mass-mailing worms and viruses such as LovGate, which targeted users of Outlook, increased connectivity demands increased security of the entire messaging system.

"The commitment from anti-virus experts like Trend Micro has been crucial to providing Exchange Server 2003 customers with an added level of security, which allows them to maximise the potential of communications and productivity tools with complete peace of mind," commented Kevin McCuistion, director of Exchange marketing for Exchange at Microsoft Corp. "With this version of ScanMail for Exchange from Trend Micro, Exchange customers benefit from the enhanced ability to manage their messaging system based on their own security policies."

Trend Micro ScanMail for Microsoft Exchange version 6.2 features several enhancements designed around the increased demands for messaging bandwidth, operational efficiency, and early prevention of mass-mailing threat outbreaks.

Utilising the Microsoft Antivirus Scan API version 2.5 for Microsoft Exchange Server 2003, ScanMail for Microsoft Exchange supports scanning of message body content and attachments at the bridgehead server level, the outermost layer of the messaging system. By scanning at this level, inbound and outbound Internet mail inside the SMTP traffic stream is scanned, which means added protection for certain legacy mail systems or Exchange servers running non-Trend Micro products, a must against SMTP-based threats such as the recent Sobig worm.

With this release, Windows Server 2003 and Exchange Server 2003 customers have the advantage of managing the impact of mixed-threat and new mass-mailer attacks through services offered as part of Trend Micro Enterprise Protection Strategy, such as Outbreak Prevention Service, which is designed to allow organisations to retrieve and deploy policies to take action quickly against new threats. Other new features, including e-mail quarantine and anti-spam and message filtering functions (with optional eManager module), allow greater flexibility and enforcement for each organisation's e-mail policy.

ScanMail for Microsoft Exchange version 6.2 was tested and certified for Windows Server 2003 while running Exchange Server 2003 by VeriTest, the testing division of Lionbridge. VeriTest is the exclusive provider of third party independent testing for the "Microsoft Certified for Windows" program and applies strict guidelines for operating system interoperability, reliability, and compatibility specifications set forth by Microsoft.

"Based on rigorous certification testing through VeriTest, Trend Micro users can be assured that the newest version of ScanMail for Exchange has been verified for interoperability with the Windows and Exchange 2003 environment and that it will provide the level of reliability needed for enterprise-scale, business-critical operations," commented Katrina Teague, Vice-President, Marketing and Solutions, VeriTest.