Trend Micro, a leader in anti-virus and Internet content security, is making the latest version of its trademark all-in-one defense against Web-based threats available Jan. 29.

Trend Micro Client Server Messaging Security 3.5 is aimed specifically at meeting the security needs of SMBs (small and midsize businesses), company officials said. Offering protection against spyware, rootkits and bots, the new product also features automated checks to identify outdated Windows machines, without the added requirement of visiting individual desktops.

The program allows users to manage security for the entire network by looking at a single console, said Raj Ventak, Trend Micro's director of small business marketing, in an interview with eWEEK.

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"We designed this product keeping the customer's needs in mind," Ventak said, adding that the solution only needs an activation key to install. "Small businesses want less complex solutions."

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Many SMBs have their CEOs leading their IT departments or have only part-time IT staff, and feel both the Web-based threats they face and the security solutions on the market are growing increasingly too complex, Ventak said. Trend Micro hopes to provide those types of businesses with a product that protects against malware, spyware and other threats without sacrificing ease of use, he said.

To further support customers and channel partners, a hosted, Web-based service, will let channel partners manage several clients from one screen, company officials said.

The service will simplify the challenge faced by channel partners looking to manage multiple customers simultaneously, officials said.

The Vista-compatible release also includes a vulnerability assessment tool that lets users analyze the strengths and weaknesses of security on individual computers on a network, said Jon Clay, senior product market manager at Trend Micro.

The service also uses a Web-based security dashboard that uses a traffic light system to indicate threat levels, he said. A green light for example, would mean there are no problems, while a red light indicates a serious threat, he said.

"Our product 3.5 will protect the customer today out of the gate," Clay said.

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