Security vendor Webroot Software has announced a hosted perimeter security solution on a subscription basis.Security vendor Webroot Software has announced a hosted perimeter security solution on a subscription basis.
Webroot E-Mail Security SaaS provides virus and spam filters that the company claims protects against 98 percent of e-mail spam and 100 percent of known viruses. Its managed encryption service encrypts data on a peer-to-peer basis, and content-filtering and data-archiving capabilities help cushion companies against data loss while helping them comply with regulations and data storage requirements.
Other features include image filtering, where images are compared with blacklisted images; e-mail archiving in duplicate and geographically disparate data centers; and the capability for 28 days of e-mail to be available from secure, mirrored data stores to users via Web mail.
The hosted -- or SAAS (Software as a Service) -- model is particularly attractive for smaller businesses in the security arena, said Jon Oltsik, senior analyst for information security at Enterprise Strategy Group.
"Many SMBs have traditionally used all-in-one appliances or managed services through a local reseller, but security is too specialized and sophisticated for most IT shops," he said.
Symantec is offering log management as a service. Click here to read more.
Because SAAS is such a good model for security, other companies are also jumping on the bandwagon, including Symantec, IBM and McAfee. Others include Microsoft, which owns MessageGate, and Google, which owns Postini.
Perimeter security in particular -- mail security, firewalls, intrusion detection systems and content security -- are a particularly good fit for a managed service, Oltsik said. Other candidates include branch offices, retail chains and regulated industries.
"It's about skills and cost," he said. "If my business is in
Manhattan
, I might be able to find people [to administer perimeter security], but if I'm in
Manhattan,
Kansas, it may be more difficult. Really, any company that depends on external communications via the Web as a significant part of its business is a good candidate."
Other vendors offering perimeter security solutions, albeit boxed solutions, include Fortinet and SonicWall, while most other vendors offering it as a managed service currently consist of local VARs and telcos.
