Web services security pioneer Forum Systems on Monday announced plans to add virus protection to its flagship XML Firewall product.
Forum Systems Inc., of Salt Lake City, will partner with Computer Associates International Inc. to integrate CAs eTrust anti-virus scanning engine with its Forum XWall Web Services Firewall.
The deal paves the way for what is being described as “industrial-strength protection” against viruses, worms and other malware that can penetrate corporate networks through XML and SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) documents, according to Forum Systems chief executive Wes Swenson.
In an interview with Ziff Davis Internet News, Swenson said the growth of XML in the enterprise has opened the door for virus writers to bypass firewalls and desktop anti-virus scanners.
“Were taking the eTrust anti-virus product engine and update system and putting it into our XML Firewall to stave off the threat of XML malware,” Swenson said.
Forums XWall Web Services Firewall already offers protection against XML attacks according to the WS-I Profile and ensures WSDL Access Control and XML Schema Restriction, he said.
With CAs eTrust scanning engine, the company now will add a new module called Forum XAV (XML Antivirus) to filter scan any XML and SOAP document and their file attachment.
The product, which is scheduled to ship May 1, will receive anti-virus signatures from CA eTrusts Security Advisor. Forum XWall X5.0 will be marketed in software and hardware appliance options and will be priced between $5,000 and $40,000, depending on software and hardware configuration.
Customers also will have to pay an annual subscription of $2,500 a year (per server) for anti-virus updates.
