Web security and WAN optimization solutions specialist Blue Coat
announced the release of the ProxyOne Web security appliance, which
integrates Web filtering, inline malware and antivirus scanning and
on-box reporting. The appliance also includes pre-configured policies
and delivers automatic software upgrades and immediate security
updates.
Pricing for the first year starts at $8,999 for 100 users, which
includes the appliance, software licenses, automatic security updates
and 24x7 support. The appliance can scale to support up to 2,000 users.
ProxyOne appliances are also available for a 30-day evaluation period
under the company’s Try-and-Buy program offered through authorized
channel partners.
For real-time ratings and immediate protection against Web threats,
ProxyOne appliances utilize Blue Coat WebFilter and connect to the
cloud-based Blue Coat WebPulse service. Additionally, Blue Coat
security experts continually update the WebPulse defenses to protect
against new threats. With inline malware and anti-virus scanning at the
Web gateway, ProxyOne appliances are designed to block malware
executables before they get on the network.
ProxyOne appliances provide on-box reporting of Web-based user
activity, including potentially infected end users, compliance with
usage policies and the number of threats attempting to access the
network, while an interface allows businesses to customize the primary
reporting window. Utilizing a combination of stream-splitting and
caching technologies, ProxyOne appliances are also designed to prevent
“video floods” that are caused when online video saturates the network.
“Blue Coat has a long history of leadership in the enterprise Web
security market,” said Carrie Oakes, vice president and general manager
of the ProxyOne business unit. “By integrating leading Web security
technologies into a single appliance that is easy to deploy, configure
and manage, a broader range of businesses can now benefit from Blue
Coat’s leading Web security technology.”
Oakes said for organizations with limited IT resources, the growing use
of social media, combined with the rapid evolution of Web-based
threats, presents a significant risk. In 2010, 70 percent of small and
medium-sized businesses were using social media tools. According to
Panda Security, 30 percent of those businesses reported malware
infections spread via social networks.
“The shift in business to the Web has exposed small and large
businesses alike to greater risk, yet smaller businesses often lack the
financial and IT resources to protect their users, making them more
vulnerable to rapidly evolving Web-based threats,” said Lawrence Orans,
research director at Gartner. “These smaller businesses need the same
type of Web security that is commonly found in large enterprises but in
a solution that is easy to manage, affordable and doesn’t require them
to be security experts.”
