Appliance Guards Web Mail, FTP

As they struggle to comply with privacy and security regulations and to prevent insiders from leaking confidential data, some enterprises are seeking to monitor messaging streams beyond corporate e-mail.

To fill that need, messaging security software developer Proofpoint Inc., best known for its anti-spam tools, this week will debut its Network Content Sentry as an add-on appliance to its Content Security suite. The appliance can monitor Web mail, message boards, blogs and FTP-based communications.

“What weve heard from our customers is that they have all of this confidential data and intellectual property stored in e-mail, but now they need to tackle Web mail and other messaging streams,” said Sandra Vaughan, senior vice president of products for Proofpoint, in Cupertino, Calif.

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Proofpoints Content Security suite includes a Regulatory Compliance module, which detects data such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) codes and Social Security numbers, and a Digital Asset Security module, which detects proprietary data and intellectual property in SMTP-based e-mail.

When used with Network Content Sentry, these tools can help screen and monitor outbound HTTP- and FTP-based transmissions for confidential data and issue alerts when breaches are detected.

“Its really hard to manage every feasible method of people trying to send e-mail out or send information out, and Ive been looking for a product that would let you … monitor what goes in and out,” said Connor Brosnahan, network manager for South Nassau Communities Hospital, an acute care hospital in Oceanside, N.Y.

“Some facilities in health care block out IM [instant messaging] or Web mail, but, to me, that kind of hampers someones ability to do their work,” Brosnahan said.

The hospital uses Proofpoints tools for controlling spam and for monitoring e-mail. Network Content Sentry will be generally available next quarter; pricing is not yet available.

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