Data storage and security vendor Symantec is rolling out a new integrated information security and archiving suite of applications that offers consistent enforcement of content control policies across a Microsoft-centric enterprise—from e-mail gateway security to archiving.
Using Symantec Information Foundation 2007, introduced Jan. 29, IT professionals can prevent data loss and policy violations while responding to legal e-discovery requests, a company spokesperson said.
Symantec, of Cupertino, Calif., also made available the beta version of Information Foundation Mail Security 6.0 for Exchange, a key component in the Information Foundation 2007 suite. Due in March, the mail security software aims to reduce risks to information flowing internally as well as in and out of the enterprise via Microsoft Exchange servers, including Exchange 2007.
“All systems that are used to exchange and store information within an organization are vulnerable to an increasing range of security, compliance and legal risks,” said Francis deSouza, vice president of Symantecs Information Foundation Group.
Information Foundation 2007 offers three key features—what Symantec Marketing Manager Nick Mehta called “intelligent archiving, user classification and encryption of sensitive documents.”
“For example, a user can send a message that the receiver wouldnt be able to print out or otherwise recirculate—if thats the policy on that particular piece of e-mail,” Mehta said. “It all depends on what the rules are, and those can easily be reset as needed.”
In addition, if a company is involved in litigation, the software can be set up to sift through and locate any communications within the company involving e-mail, documents, instant messages or file sharing that might be related to that litigation. That can be done through keywords, phrases and other flag points, Mehta said.
“Disjointed, piecemeal compliance solutions offer little extensibility and suffer from high administrative overhead,” said IDC analyst Christian Christiansen. “With Information Foundation, Symantec offers a compliance infrastructure that can handle future regulatory and internal compliance demands.” ´