IT security and data protection firm Sophos has introduced new, content-aware Data Loss Prevention (DLP) technology, to simplify how companies militate against accidental data loss.
By seamlessly integrating DLP into the new release of Sophos Endpoint Security and Data Protection (ESDP), Sophoss channel partners can offer UK businesses greater control over sensitive data without any additional licensing costs*.
Businesses, which have been unable to expand their budgets or IT teams, can now use a single agent to protect against data loss, secure their networks against malware, adware, suspicious files and behaviour, as well as control unauthorised devices and applications. The Endpoint product also checks a further compliance tick box by providing full disk and removable storage encryption.
Its a real dilemma for IT administrators. They need to prove they are protecting data such as customers or employees personal information, but have no extra money to do it, said John Shaw, Vice President of endpoint security at Sophos. Data protection is a serious issue, and too many organisations are risking a public spanking and costly fines by not having a viable solution in place. According to a report by Forrester*, the loss of a single record can cost an average of 100. The financial risk to a company with 10,000 records is a million quid. No small potatoes.
Sophoss DLP technology is designed to take the burden away from IT administrators. Through simple configuration, the solution allows organisations to avoid accidental data loss by warning its employees of possible breaches before any data is transferred. This approach allows IT teams to set flexible security policies that protect the company without impeding on business continuity or end-user productivity.
For Sophoss channel partners, the new solution will enable them to better respond to the needs of their customers and find true points of differentiation in a crowded and competitive market. Ruth Schofield, alliances development manager, SBL said, The new release of Sophoss ESDP means that we can directly address the needs of our customers with a truly simple and effective solution.
In addition to integrated data loss prevention, Sophos ESDP simplifies cross-platform security. Enhanced application and device control capabilities, such as setting the permissions for removable storage - including USB sticks, external hard disks and wireless connection technologies (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Infrared) - is also included. IT administrators can centrally set group security policies as well as choose from a number of reports, which address compliance reporting requirements, via the Enterprise Console dashboard.
Sophos has a very strong background in content and context scanning, thanks to 25 years in the anti-virus business, continued Shaw. We are using that same technology to look inside documents for sensitive data. High costs of purchase and day-to-day management have put some businesses off investing in DLP until now its these guys who find our offering so appealing.
We are making use of our 25 years worth of experience in anti-virus and encryption and adding DLP to what we already do continued Shaw. Our agent is already scanning every file for malware, intercepting every communication and controlling every USB stick, Bluetooth connection and so on. So far, the DLP industry has insisted on reinventing the wheel with separate agents and separate management infrastructure. This slows users down and involves the IT team in a huge project that they havent got time or money for, and its these overburdened IT teams who find our offering so appealing.
* Existing ESDP customers can upgrade at no additional charge
** "Calculating the Cost of a Security Breach" - Forrester, 2007
***Pricing based on a one year licence.
About Sophos
More than 100 million users in 150 countries rely on Sophos as the best protection against complex threats and data loss. Sophos is committed to providing security and data protection solutions that are simple to manage, deploy and use and that deliver the industry's lowest total cost of ownership.
Sophos offers award-winning encryption, endpoint security, web, email, and network access control solutions backed by SophosLabs - a global network of threat intelligence centres. With more than two decades of experience, Sophos is regarded as a leader in security and data protection by top analyst firms and has received many industry awards.
Sophos is headquartered in Oxford, UK and Boston, US.
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