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Websense harnesses cloud for SaaS content security

* Websense surpasses 1.5bn transactions per day with more than 250 000 new threats prevented each month.

* SaaS security product and technology momentum along with customer demand for flexible solution delivery drive Websense growth and technology direction.

Issued by Websense
San Diego, 11 Sep 2009

Websense (NASDAQ: WBSN) today announced that its software as a service (SaaS) e-mail and Web security solutions reached a significant new milestone, processing more than one-and-a-half billion end-user security requests per day, starting in August.

This is coupled with the news that Websense is discovering and preventing more than 250 000 new threats each month that legacy anti-virus security systems do not cover. Websense also revealed a clear vision for the increased role of SaaS and cloud-based security within its integrated line of content-based security solutions, highlighting its extensive infrastructure and product momentum in SaaS.

“We've reached a significant milestone of one-and-a-half billion security requests processed per day, which shows the rise in adoption of SaaS content security,” said John McCormack, president, Websense.

“The number is even higher when you consider all of the bad connections prevented based on the poor reputation of the source. Additionally, we are now processing more than one billion daily Web security as a service transactions - the closest competitors in this space claim less than half that number. When you combine these transactions with the number of new threats we protect customers from that no other legacy security system can match, it shows the value of our cloud-based system and infrastructure.”

Websense has a long and innovative history of leveraging the cloud for security as a service, both as a core, backend infrastructure and as a delivery platform for its inbound security and outbound compliance and data loss prevention solutions. Websense currently has millions of active end-users supported across its SaaS offerings, including Web Security, Email Security, Hybrid Email Security, Social Network Security, and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partner arrangements. Websense has experienced rapid adoption of its SaaS security solutions and was recently cited in an IDC market share report as the fastest growing vendor among the top six in the Web security SaaS market.1

“Based on our latest research, Websense is broadening its security SaaS leadership from e-mail to Web, the fastest growing segment of the Web security market,” said Brian Burke, program director, Security Products, IDC. “Today, Websense solutions provide reliable, global coverage for thousands of enterprise and smaller customers, as well as technology and service provider partners, worldwide. As for the future, we are optimistic that its products will keep pace with customers' changing needs.”

In addition to the growth in its SaaS product adoption, Websense also boasts many firsts in integrated cloud and SaaS security technology. These include the industry-leading ThreatSeeker Network, the industry's first and only Web 2.0 social network sensor and SaaS security system, Defensio, and the first SaaS e-mail security solution to integrate industry leading data loss prevention technology.

Building on this integrated content security system, the company is paving the way for the future of SaaS by combining the Websense cloud and on-premise platforms. The company's vision is uniquely designed to meet market requirements such as the need for flexibility and lower total cost of ownership, without sacrificing security or control. With this model, customers can choose between deploying their integrated content security solution solely on-premise, solely in the cloud as a service, or in a hybrid combination with the industry's only adaptive anywhere service and management system.

This vision of a flexible delivery platform provides customers with the ability to choose the delivery platform that best meets their ever-changing network requirements and differentiates Websense from other solutions that offer only single, un-integrated points of delivery that increase costs and limit value. In fact, the Forrester Wave for Content Security Suites, Q2, 2009, states: “We believe that Websense's product strategy, built on cloud-based intelligence and cloud delivery, laid the strongest foundation for an integrated content security suite.” 2

“We are delivering the future of SaaS Web, Web 2.0 and e-mail security today, but believe our clear direction provides a competitive advantage for tomorrow as well,” added McCormack. “We will continue to leverage more of our cloud-based ThreatSeeker Network in our technologies as well as with partner-delivered solutions. What's more, we will integrate our on-premise and SaaS product capabilities into a unified management and reporting console. This integration will allow customers the choice of deploying our Web and e-mail security anywhere - for large and small sites, remote users, on premise, in the cloud, and as a combination of the two - with the flexibility to transition back and forth seamlessly. Ultimately, this will give customers the greatest protection with the deployment flexibility they require.”

To learn more about Websense SaaS solutions and vision, and to register for our upcoming Webinar, visit www.websense.com.

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Websense

Websense (NASDAQ: WBSN), a global leader in integrated Web, data and e-mail security solutions, provides Essential Information Protection for approximately 44 million product seats under subscription. Distributed through its global network of channel partners, Websense software and hosted security solutions help organisations block malicious code, prevent the loss of confidential information and enforce Internet use and security policies. For more information, visit www.websense.com.

1 “World Wide Security 2009-2013 Forecast and 2008 Vendor Shares: It's All About Web 2.0 You TwitFace”, August 2009, IDC #219502.

2 The Forrester Wave: Content Security Suites, Q2 2009, April 16, 2009

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, which, if they do not materialise or prove correct, could cause Websense results to differ materially from historical results or those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including statements about our technology and product leadership, growth trends and expense management, and statements containing the words "planned", "expects", "believes", "strategy", "opportunity", "anticipates" and similar words. The potential risks and uncertainties which contribute to the uncertain nature of these statements include, among others, risks associated with launching new product offerings, customer acceptance of the company's services, products and fee structures in a changing market; the success of Websense brand development efforts; the volatile and competitive nature of the Internet and security industries; changes in domestic and international market conditions, risks relating to currency exchange rates and impacts of macro-economic conditions on our customers, risks relating to the required use of cash for debt servicing, the risks of ongoing compliance with the covenants in the senior secured credit facility, risks related to changes in accounting interpretations and the other risks and uncertainties described in Websense public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at www.websense.com/investors. Websense assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which it was made.