SecureData, a member of the JSE-listed ERP.com Group and a southern African distributor for Websense, today announced the release of the latest versions of Websense Client Policy Manager (CPM) and Websense Web Security Suite - Lockdown Edition.
These products provide industry leading security for employees using removable devices for both exporting corporate information and retrieving files that may be infected with malcode. CPM delivers desktop security protection against known and unknown security threats. It is a proactive, critical security component that closes the window of exposure between the time vulnerability is detected and virus signatures or appropriate patches can be deployed.
CPM enforces employee application use policies for desktops, laptops and servers by identifying and transparently blocking unauthorised applications. It stops the execution of potentially harmful applications, such as spyware, keyloggers, peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing and hacking tools. This is accomplished with support from Websense's unique and comprehensive database of categorised applications - both productive and malicious.
The newest version of CPM will allow organisations to lockdown removable media such as flash drives, CD/DVD burners, floppy drives and external hard drives from being used on client workstations - an employee Internet management industry first. Left unmanaged, removable media devices may serve as a means to remove confidential company information undetected and also provide a way to introduce malcode into an organisation's network environment.
According to a recent Websense survey of IT managers, 65% indicated that employees within their organisation have used a portable storage device, such as a USB drive, to remove or copy information directly from the organisation's network. An organisation's security may be compromised when employees connect USB drives to infected home computers, or upload files containing malicious code onto a mobile device then introduce them back into the organisation, enabling the malcode to propagate in the organisation's network. CPM eliminates this risk of infection by allowing organisations to set policies on the use of removable media including turning access completely off.
CPM offers flexible, centralised policy management of application categories and individual applications. Through Websense directory integration, policies can be implemented at the group level or tailored to individual needs, thereby ensuring desktops are protected and adhere to corporate standards.
"Although USB drives are convenient and popular business tools, they can expose networks to mobile malicious code and viruses, as well as leak confidential documents," commented Leo Cole, vice-president of marketing for Websense. "Websense is offering our customers a powerful and effective solution to safeguard their organisations against the rising tide of damage caused by removable media."
Websense Web Security Suite - Lockdown Edition is an integrated Web security solution that provides spyware protection and blocks access to malicious mobile code and other Web-based threats, as well as prevents spyware and keylogging transmissions back to third-party host sites. In addition, the software stops the execution of unauthorised applications such as malware, peer-to-peer file sharing, and hacking tools on the employee desktop. Websense Web Security Suite-Lockdown Edition also offers enhanced end-point security for mobile computing and protects employees from phishing scams and controls the sending and receiving of instant messaging (IM) clients.
Current CPM and Websense Web Security Suite - Lockdown Edition customers may upgrade to the latest versions free-of-charge to gain the benefits of the new product enhancements. Key features and benefits include:
* Websense Removable Media Lockdown - Allows system administrators to prevent devices such as flash drives, CD/DVD burners, floppy drives, and external hard drives from being used on client workstations. Organisations can also block writable media, depending upon the organisation's policy.
* Websense Network Lockdown - Delivers proactive protection against known and unknown security threats by blocking application network access to specific ports and protocols by application category.
* Websense Application Lockdown - Provides maximum control over desktop environments by allowing only approved applications to run on corporate PCs and servers, thereby preventing potentially malicious applications from launching. Also detects and analyses end-point desktop security threats and application activity.
* Websense Express Lockdown - Allows system administrators to quickly prevent the execution of new applications thereby blocking attacks such as keyloggers, Trojan horses, worms and other malicious code threats. Unlike Application Lockdown, Express Lockdown does not require a machine inventory.
* Websense Web-based Threat Mitigation - Provides superior protection from web-based threats including keyloggers, spyware, Trojan horses, BOTS, scripts and ActiveX controls via a comprehensive database of malicious Web-based applications.
In addition, Websense Reporting Tools incorporated into CPM and Web Security Suite - Lockdown Edition help identify potential problems with real-time and historical views of risks associated with web and application use by employees. Using this information, IT administrators can refine Internet access and application policies to effectively reduce the risks associated with employee computing in their organisations. Websense reporting tools also provide timely alerts and audit trails to help support compliance efforts.
CPM and Websense Web Security Suite - Lockdown Edition are available for organisations in need of protection from new, evolving Web-based security threats.
For further information, please contact Willem Barnard at telephone (011) 257 8600; fax (011) 257 8699; e-mail willemb@securedata.co.za.
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Websense, Inc, is the global leader in Web filtering, and a premier provider of web security software, and is preferred by leading Fortune 500, and FTSE 100 customers, as well as government agencies and educational institutions. Websense products increase employee Internet productivity and secure organisations from emerging Internet threats by providing a proactive Web security component that complements traditional security solutions. Only Websense delivers flexible, integrated policy enforcement at the Internet gateway, on the network and at the desktop. Websense provides solutions trusted by more than 24 000 customers and 19.8 million employees worldwide.
SecureData
SecureData, an ERP.com company, is Africa's premier IT security solution provider. SecureData's solutions incorporate anti-virus and content security, network security, intrusion prevention software and network asset management. SecureData's comprehensive "Managed Security Services" include design, audit, implementation, vulnerability assessment, outsourcing and hosting.
SecureData distributes, sells and supports category leading IT security products to the public, corporate and SME sectors throughout Africa as well as products and services to the SOHO and consumer markets through partnerships with ISPs. As well as being the sole distributor in Sub-Saharan Africa for and Trend Micro, SecureData is the African distributor for US-based TippingPoint Technologies and the southern African distributor for US-based Application Security, BorderWare, eEye, Rocket Software, RSA Security, St Bernard and Websense; and UK-based Centennial. For more information, visit SecureData at www.securedata.co.za.
ERP.com
ERP.com is a JSE-listed company focused on the implementation, integration and management of enterprise applications in an e-business environment. For more information, visit ERP.com at www.erpcom.co.za.
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