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Akonix Launches New IM Security For SMBs
SecurityProNews
Staff Writer
2006-04-06
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Instant messaging security company Akonix Systems unveiled a new line of IM security appliances aimed at the small to medium sized business (SMB) sector, along with a couple of other appliances for IM management and file sharing protection.
As part of the company's 360-Degree Security for Real-Time Communications, also used by AOL, the line of security appliances takes aim at "poisoned Web addresses" that can be sent through IM.
"Appliances that secure networks against IM attacks are attractive to IT organizations due to their ease of deployment and maintenance," said Maurene Caplan Grey, founder, principal analyst of Grey Consulting. "The operational efficiency of a security appliance is particularly critical due to the uptake of IM-focused malicious code."
The A-Series IM security appliances were launched alongside version 5.1 of Akonix L7 Enterprise IM management gateway, and L7 Enforcer for detecting and blocking the unauthorized use of IM and peer-to-peer file sharing (P2P) applications.
Based on the same technology as the IM security appliance intended for large corporations with enormous numbers of employees, the A1000 IM security appliance is intended for organizations with fewer than 1,000 users. It runs on the same AkOS as the A6000 with the newest versions of Akonix L7 Enterprise v5.1 and Akonix L7 Enforcer v5.1.
The L7 Enterprise suite was recently updated to include a Web-based user interface, which reduces the end user's administrative burden to install, patch and update client software for interacting with the application. The latest version includes support for the use of international, non-American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) character sets to be monitored, logged and reported. Additional support for Jabber's Enterprise Instant Messaging (EIM) is also now integrated in the software.
Additional enhancements include customizable message rate throttling that provides containment for rapidly propagating IM worms, and new, built-in allow/disallow lists for allowing safe Web address URLs to be sent while automatically blocking known malicious URLs.
"We value our partnership with Akonix and recognize its technological innovation in the IM security space," Brian Curry, vice president, Premium and Subscription Services, AOL LLC. "With the introduction of its new appliance family and enhanced software, Akonix continues to help protect enterprises from potential risks associated with unmanaged IM use, enabling businesses to experience the benefits of real-time communications."
The appliances are managed through the Akonix Appliance Manager, which allows administrators to review system logins, available patches and packages, download packages, review and audit previously downloaded packages, and manage their trace files. Also included in the administrative console is the Akonix Activity Monitor, a dashboard to monitor IM activity and usage statistics; and Report Manager, to create, run and manage reports.
"With the introduction of our new appliances, custom-developed OS and enhanced versions of L7 Enterprise and L7 Enforcer, we are giving companies of all sizes the opportunity to protect their networks from the dangers of unmanaged IM use," said Don Montgomery, vice president of marketing at Akonix Systems, Inc.
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