Websense Releases First Real-Time Security App for Facebook

Websense rolled out the industry’s first real-time security application for Facebook pages today as a part of its Defensio 2.0 launch. The product gives channel partners a more robust way to help clients adapt to the Web 2.0 and social media environment without instituting draconian and backward-looking bans against applications such as Facebook.

Able to be incorporated directly into the Websense Web Security Gateway product, Defensio is a customized cloud-based platform that enables users to protect blog and Facebook pages against malicious links and inappropriate content, including content that poses security risks, reputation risks or legal liability, such as profanity, executable files and scripts.

Armed with both Websense Web Security Gateway and Defensio, enterprises are able to attack the Web 2.0 risks on two fronts: for end users and for clients and other viewers of corporate blogs and Facebook pages. Defensio protects the former, while the gateway defends the latter.

“Defensio 2.0 enhances the Web 2.0 threat protection capabilities found within our Websense Web Security Gateway,” said Erin Malone, senior director of Sales and Channel Programs at Websense. “It also further enables our channel partners to proactively protect their customers before these emerging Web 2.0 threats spread and become a broader concern.”

A recent <a href="/news-and-trends/connecting-it-customers-with-social-networking//">Cisco survey</a> showed how important social media is becoming for channel customers. Corporate Facebook users are leveraging connections with customers and partners to further marketing and communications, human resources and sales efforts. However, the survey showed that organizations are struggling with the management of social media campaigns, including the mitigation of risks from the platforms. According to the survey, 90% of organizations are using social media with no input or help from IT to manage its use.