M86 Integrates Web Security, URL Filtering Reporting, Improves Social Media Controls

M86 Security has added Web security reporting capabilities to its Reporter product, adding information from its Web Security Gateway appliances to its existing reports from its URL filtering products. The security vendor also announced Secure Web Gateway 10.0, with improved on-box reporting, more granular social media controls and enhanced ability to filter out malicious code from compromised websites. The reporting enhancements are a significant step towards the integration of M86 product lines, particularly the Web security technology obtained when the company acquired Finjan in November 2009.

Reporter 3.0 provides a single dashboard for URL filtering and security. Security reports include viruses blocked, security rules triggered, traffic analysis by content type and security policy violations. Reporter appliances provide six terabytes of onboard storage and 12 terabytes with external storage.The improved on-box reporting should be attractive to SMBs with additional reports, filters and improved scheduling.

M86 will add e-mail security reporting from its MailMarshal products next year, he said. Integration is a high priority for M86, which was formed by the 2008 merger of URL filtering vendor 8e6 Technologies and U.K.-based Marshal, an e-mail and Web security company. The main inhibitor to integration of Web filtering and Web security in the enterprise has been that separate organizations have been responsible for them, with URL filtering being viewed as a compliance issue and Web security falling under network  organizations or on the risk management side

"The ability to manage Web security from the standpoint of threat analysis and URL filtering from single interface seems to be what the market wants," said Michael Osterman, president of Osterman Research. "To manage anything you do with the Web or Web 2.0 applications or email or real-time communications is really a policy decision. "It all boils down to policy engines for all communication types."

Web Security Gateway 10.0 also features more granular social networking site controls for both inbound and outbound traffic. It can control traffic and policy based on protocols, content size and specific URLs. So, for example, an organization can set rules on file uploads and downloads based on file size, or extend read-only privileges for social sites such as Facebook, file sites such as SlideShare or even blogs."There may be a little bit of hype--we're pretty much in the early stages of the market--but organizations are going to need to get out ahead of this," said Osterman. "Twitter, Facebook, etc., present the opportunity for malware to get into the organization. There are also a lot of risks on the outbound side a lot of risks. It's interesting what people will put on Twitter posts."

Secure Web Gateway 10.0 also improves its "Dynamic Web Repair" capability that detects and filters out malicious code from content served up when a user visits a legitimate compromised website. The technology is more precise in its detection and removal capabilities. M86 also announced tighter integration of its cloud-based scanning and appliances in its Secure Web Service Hybrid, which extends Web security to remote workers and branch offices, consolidating reporting and management on-premises.

Finally, WebMarshal 6.8 Web security software product, features a simplified installation process, streamlined day-to-day administration and improved reporting capabilities, according to M86.

M86 Security Reporter appliance pricing starts at $16,995 and Secure Web Gateway appliance at $11,110. WebMarshal subscription price starts at $37.80 per user/year