|
 |
|
General Information
|
Add To My Personal Library |
November 2, 2007
• Vol.29 Issue 44
Page(s) 27 in print issue
|
Software For All Businesses
GFI Focuses On Network Security, Content Security & Messaging
|
GFI develops and sells software products that address universal business needs; for example, its three main product lines are network security, content security, and messaging. We asked Simon Reed, vice president of engineering, three questions about GFI (www.gfi.com).
What are the biggest IT-related issues facing today’s small to midsized enterprise?
“Network growth, the threat posed by company insiders, and problems faced by IT administrators who have to make do with lower budgets and fewer resources,” says Reed.
Network growth. Every day, networks grow larger and more complex. Administrators must track and control network content and how it’s used. It’s impossible to manually audit all the network resources, and even though resource monitoring and auditing software is available, this creates more problems. The answer is to adopt integrated solutions.
Employee and company insider threats. Threats come from both disgruntled employees who abuse their positions of trust to steal company data and uninformed individuals who may innocently make serious security errors. In addition, laptops are stolen, USB sticks are lost, and sensitive information placed on home computers leaks out.
Default configurations and incorrectly configured counter-measures are also a threat. Security breach incidents can use weaknesses within unpatched systems, where vendors have already issued a security fix, but administrators have not deployed that patch in time. Uncontrolled use of convenience devices such as USB sticks, uncontrolled Web browsing, Web-based threats such as phishing sites, and email scams also pose an equal risk to companies and individuals.
Finances and budgeting. SMEs are usually on tight budgets. Administrators are required to do more than just manage the network, help is minimal, and IT budgets are typically smaller than required to do the job. Administrators are painfully aware of the security risks, but it takes an enormous effort to convince management that any investment in IT or security is worthwhile, which is further exacerbated when IT administrators and management fail to speak the same language.
What should Processor readers know about your company’s products?
GFI has nine products, which are easy to install, offer excellent price-performance, and are tailor-made to address problems without all the unnecessary bells and whistles. These product solutions fall into three areas: network security, content security, and messaging.
GFI LANguard Network Security Scanner safeguards systems and networks from hacker attacks and security breaches. Administrators use this to scan networks, assess, identify, and rectify any vulnerability.
GFI EventsManager monitors network security health and performance and provides real-time alerts when critical system and security events arise. GFI EndPointSecurity provides granular, network-wide controls over the use of insider threats posed by portable storage devices such as iPods, flash drives, and USB sticks. And GFI Network Server Monitor is a network monitoring software that scans networks for failures or irregularities automatically and then identifies issues and repairs unexpected conditions before problems escalate.
GFI MailSecurity is an antivirus solution that offers layers of protection through the use of multiple antivirus engines. GFI MailEssentials for Exchange/SMTP/Lotus is an antispam, antiphishing package that filters email spam. And for non-work-related threats, GFI WebMonitor for ISA Server is available in three editions to effectively control what users are browsing and downloading in real time.
For messaging, GFI FAXmaker for Exchange/SMTP/Lotus (a fax server) and GFI MailArchiver for Exchange (an email management and email archiving solution) are also available.
What makes your company unique?
“Price performance is undoubtedly our key differentiator,” says Reed. “Priced to suit the needs of the SMB with limited budgets but in need of quality solutions. We are a small company, but we take pride in offering quality, best-of-breed solutions that really solve major issues for IT administrators. We understand our customers because we listen to them, what their needs are, and, accordingly, develop and tweak our products on a regular basis.”
by Julie Sartain
|
|
