Trend Micro Extends Security To IM

Trend Micro is extending its e-mail security coverage to instant messaging.

The Cupertino, Calif., security vendor Tuesday unveiled Trend Micro IM Security for Microsoft Office Live Communication Server along with new versions of its e-mail security product ScanMail for both Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Domino as well as an upgrade to its Portal Protect for Microsoft's SharePoint collaboration platform.

Trend's security product for Microsoft's Live Communication Server instant messaging platform helps prevent worms such Bropia, Kelvir and Fatso from using IM as a propagation vehicle, said Howard Price, senior global product manager for the vendor.

Extending messaging security end-to-end to cover instant messaging is a significant move for Trend Micro, said Kathy Johnson, director of sales for Johnson Consulting, a Woburn, Mass., messaging consulting company. "People now use instant messaging every day as a part of business," she said. "It needs to be as secure as e-mail."

Bill O'Brien, principal of Commercium Technology, a security specialist in Rumson, N.J., said Trend Micro's new products will be attractive to large companies considering adopting Microsoft's collaboration technologies. "Trend is in lock step with Microsoft on their collaboration products," he said. "The ability to use one vendor instead of using point products will be attractive to large clients."Still, customers aren't beating down the doors for collaboration security products, O'Brien said. "Collaboration is in the very early stages of adoption," he said. "As companies move to these newer Microsoft products, we will be talking to them about the security."

Trend's updated ScanMail platforms add optional anti-spam and content filtering technology for both Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Domino. IM and collaboration security products for IBM's Lotus product line are planned for the fourth quarter, Price said.

Available now, the new IM security product is priced at $14.98 per user for a 501-user license. Also for a 501-user license, ScanMail is priced at $19.20 per user for Exchange and $21.20 per user for Domino. The updated Portal Protect is priced at $17.92 per user.