Trend Micro Targets Enterprise Messaging Security with New Suite

Trend Micro has bundled together some of its messaging security products to bolster enterprise defenses using its cloud-based Smart Protection Network.

Dubbed Trend Micro Communication & Collaboration Security, the suite consists of four products—Trend Micro IM Security for Microsoft Office Communications Server, Trend Micro ScanMail for Microsoft Exchange, Trend Micro PortalProtect for Microsoft SharePoint and Trend Micro Control Manager. The suite is powered by the Smart Protection Network, Trend Micro's content security architecture.

The idea is to leverage Smart Protection Network to extend security for collaboration and instant messaging as enterprises accelerate their use of Microsoft SharePoint and OCS platforms. Citing figures from Osterman Research, Trend Micro said more than half of the organizations that participated in Osterman's recent IM Presence and RT Communication Survey reported using both Microsoft Exchange and SharePoint.

"[Enterprises] are bringing on more and more communications systems, [and] that's making their life harder and harder," David Finger, Trend Micro's global product marketing manager for messaging security, said in an interview with eWEEK. "If they need to keep bringing on individual point products to secure them, their life is going to be harder still."

The move continues Trend Micro's strategy of fighting malware in the cloud, something other security vendors are doing as well. McAfee also announced Sept. 8 a cloud-based approach to security as part of McAfee Total Protection Service for small and midsize businesses, and has plans to expand the technology to McAfee VirusScan Enterprise and its consumer products.

"The IM Security product … leverages the Web reputation threat intelligence that is part of Smart Protection Network to stop instant messages that may contain links to malicious or compromised sites," Finger said. "Similarly, our ScanMail for Exchange product supports the e-mail reputation of the Smart Protection Network and it helps stop spam, blended threats [and] malicious e-mail based on … that new cloud-client architecture rather than the old … pattern file engine update model."

The Trend Micro Communication & Collaboration Security suite is available immediately starting at $45.34 per user for 1,000 seats. For existing customers using Trend Micro ScanMail for Microsoft, upgrade prices start at $16.96 per user.