Any message that is malicious or violates corporate policy is automatically blocked and the user is notified.
Symantec (Nasdaq: SYMC)
announced the availability of Symantec Instant Messaging Security.cloud
(IMS.cloud) with support for Microsoft Lync. Symantec is a
software-as-a-service (SaaS) vendor that supports Microsoft Lync users, helping
organizations that communicate using instant messaging platforms address their
security and compliance issues. IMS.cloud scans messages and attachments for
malware, blocks malicious URLs, protects organizations from data loss and logs
messages for compliance purposes without the need for additional hardware and
software.
IMS.cloud is designed to
scan every IM sent to or coming from an organization such as incoming messages;
attachments are scanned for viruses, worms, and URLs that may lead to malicious
Websites. All incoming and outgoing messages are also matched against the
organization's acceptable use policies. Any message that is malicious or
suspicious or violates corporate policy is automatically blocked, and the user
is notified.
"Instant Messaging is
becoming a popular tool for internal and external communications in
organizations of every size," said Tom Powledge, vice president of product
delivery for Symantec.cloud. "According to Symantec Intelligence, one in 11.3
links sent over IM link to malicious Websites while our Symantec Instant
Messaging survey revealed that fewer than half the organizations surveyed have
suitable controls for monitoring IM."
Powledge said the casual
nature of IM paired with a tendency to de-prioritize IM security leaves
organizations susceptible to compliance breaches, data loss and malware
infection. "IMS.cloud takes the risk out of IM so that companies can meet user
demand for the latest technology while allowing a flexible and collaborative
working environment anytime from anywhere," he explained.
The service can be purchased
on its own or in combination with other Symantec.cloud services across email
and the Web, and includes 24/7 support and service updates. A recent Symantec
survey on corporate Instant Messaging use found that IM poses significant risk
to organizations. Approximately 60 percent of respondents use IM to communicate
with contacts outside the organization and 43 percent use it to share content
not related to work. A further 29 percent reported using IM to send information
they would not want their boss to know about.
"Instant Messaging in the
workplace is becoming ubiquitous for both internal and external communications
in organizations of every size," said Chris Christiansen, vice president of
security products and services at IDC. "But this popularity is one reason why
organizations are vulnerable to the risks that come with using desktop IM
clients. Corporate IM needs the same high levels of malware protection and
regulatory compliance required of email and Web services. Cloud-based security
services can provide such protection."
Nathan Eddy is Associate Editor, Midmarket, at eWEEK.com. Before joining eWEEK.com, Nate was a writer with ChannelWeb and he served as an editor at FierceMarkets. He is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
Email
Print
