Sophos are releasing a next generation version of email encryption that is extremely easy to set up and customise. There are no requirements for special software on the sender or receiver PC. It is called Sophos SPX encryption (Secure PDF eXchange) and is based on Utimaco's existing MailGateway PDFMail encryption product. Sophos SPX uses industry standard 128-bit AES encryption and is FIPS compliant. The Sophos SPX Encryption software is a simple upgrade to the existing Sophos Email Licence. Customers who already have a Sophos Email Licence and Appliance (any ES model) will be able to use Email Encryption immediately once they upgrade their Licence to include Email with Data Protection at no extra ES hardware cost.

Sophos SPX pricing is also likely to be considerably lower than many other email encryption vendor solutions which often require dedicated hardware and can be difficult to implement.

Foursys can demonstrate this Sophos Email Encryption SPX software and provide pricing to customers based on its use from the planned release date in September 2009 until the expiry date of the main Sophos Licence. Alternatively, if the customer's Licence has less than a year to run, it may be more cost effective to renew Email including Email Encryption. Customers without an existing Sophos Email licence, for example, but who are Endpoint or SAV users, can upgrade to include Email with Encryption and get a 25% discount off the Email price including the Encryption part.

For more information on Sophos Email with Encryption in general see http://www.foursys.co.uk/email+security+and+data+protection.aspx

For specific information on Sophos Email SPX Encryption see http://www.foursys.co.uk/email+encryption.aspx

For more advice and pricing call Foursys on 01223 810 910

Sophos Web Security (WS) Appliances protect users from malware, spyware, viruses and phishing. They also block anonymous proxies, enhance productivity, scan HTTPS traffic and enable customers to enforce their internet use policy. Now with Sophos Web version 3 software released in June the reporting has also been significantly improved. In addition a range of new Web appliances have been released which cater from small 75 user up to 15,000 user sites. There are now 4 Sophos Web Security Appliances available including an entry level WS500 and a more powerful WS1100, replacing the WS1000 at comparable cost but with 3 times the performance. In addition 2 new Sophos Security Management (SM) Appliances, the SM2000 and SM5000, are available to support multiple WS units and manage their configuration and reporting centrally.

These changes make the Sophos Web Security Appliance solution a real alternative for many customers, including those who have no other Sophos product. However, if you do use Sophos on the Desktop or Email then by also using Sophos Web you can benefit from discounts of up to 35% off each of the 3 products, or 25% if you buy just 2 products. This can dramatically reduce the cost of your enterprise security and simplify administration and support. With one vendor and reseller partner you can not only save costs but also make IT administration easier.

The web based management consoles of Sophos Web and Email are very similar, so if you are already familiar with the Sophos Email Appliance then the Web Appliance will be very familiar.

For more information see http://www.foursys.co.uk/web+security+and+control.aspx and for pricing call Foursys on 01223 810 910

The new Sophos for SharePoint product provides SharePoint customers with malware protection, content filtering and data leakage using a simple web based management console, with a very similar dashboard to that used with the Sophos appliances. Ease of use has been a primary factor in designing the front end, so the Sophos "3 clicks to anywhere" design principle means you have access to all functions simply and quickly.

If you already have a Sophos Enterprise licence then the Sophos for SharePoint licence is included free. Alternatively it is an upgrade to your existing Endpoint or Email Licence. Sector discounts apply so the costs for NHS, Charity and Education customers are significantly less.

For more information see http://www.foursys.co.uk/sophos+for+microsoft+sharepoint.aspx and for pricing call Foursys on 01223 810 910

Websense have now released a V10000 Appliance aimed at larger 2000 user plus sites that want to use Websense Web Security Gateway (WSG) on a fully supported hardware platform. The Websense V10000 is a true Appliance with 3 year onsite maintenance and 24x7 Premium Support included. The Web Security Gateway sits inline as a secure proxy checking all web traffic including HTTPS for malicious or undesirable content. WSG also provides real time content control and categorisation of unknown websites, providing security in a Web 2.0 world where the most widely used sites such as Facebook can contain threats and content that cannot be detected using many existing web security products.

Existing Websense Web Filter or Web Security customers can upgrade to Web Security Gateway and use their own server or a V10000 Websense Appliance. Later this year a smaller V series appliance will be released to allow smaller sites to use Web Security Gateway cost effectively.

For more information see http://www.foursys.co.uk/web+security+gateway.aspx and for pricing call Foursys on 01223 810 910

Foursys are still hearing of organisations that are becoming infected by the Conficker virus, months after the first outbreaks. Typical clean-up times for infections can be up to 2-3 weeks.

The key point to note is that you cannot rely on Anti-Virus scanning alone to protect against Conficker.

If you do not have the critical security patch - MS patch MS08-067 (KB958644) - fully installed on all Windows servers and endpoints you are exposing your network to a very high risk of becoming infected with Conficker.

Foursys recommends a layered approach to security to help combat Conficker and similar threats, including the following:

Client Firewalls - essential to shut down open shares - which is the main way Conficker spreads on the network. Client Firewall is now included in Sophos Endpoint and in Sophos Endpoint version 9 will be integrated into the Management Console.
Network Access Control - optional to quarantine infected PC's to eliminate further spread. Sophos Endpoint includes some NAC functions and a more Advanced NAC product is also available.
A coherent patching strategy - to ensure your network is up to date and properly protected against such exploit attacks. Sophos expect to add patch management capabilities to Endpoint from 2010 onwards.
Once a network becomes infected with Conficker, it can require a complete or partial network shutdown whilst the outbreak is brought under control.

If you require any advice or assistance with how to protect your network or deal with Conficker issues please call Foursys Technical on 01223 810911. If you have an infection/outbreak and need help fast then call Foursys. Our engineers have had practical experience in dealing with Conficker and can train your team on measures to contain and remove an infection.

Further information and advice about Conficker can be found at: http://www.sophos.com/support/knowledgebase/article/51169.html and http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/dd452420.aspx

Details on the Microsoft critical security patch MS08-067 (KB958644) are here: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS08-067.mspx

In April Celestix recognised Foursys as their UK Reseller of the Year for 2009 in recognition of our technical and sales success with their Microsoft ISA 2006 MSA security appliances. Celestix is Microsoft's largest OEM worldwide for ISA appliances. These are typically used for secure proxy web access, often with Websense Web Security software installed. This gives customers the advantage of industry standard Windows/ISA software but on a more secure, hardened platform which is also more efficient in processing web requests. A range of Celestix Appliances is now available to support sites from 50 to 10,000 users. For more information see http://www.foursys.co.uk/celestix.aspx

In May Sophos recognised Foursys as their UK Partner of the Year for 2009 for the 8th year in a row (2001 to 2009) which was a tremendous achievement of which we are all proud. Foursys remains the largest Sophos Partner in the UK and Europe with over 600 customers and over 800,000 Sophos users in Corporate, Government, NHS and Education. In addition Foursys won 2 more awards at the May 2009 Partner Conference: an award for Customer Retention in recognition of our service and support of customers and also an Individual Contribution award to Stuart Wright, the Foursys engineer responsible for Advanced NAC, in recognition of his work with Sophos on their Network Access Control software. For more information see http://www.foursys.co.uk/sophos.aspx

Foursys has been working with customers in Northern Ireland for many years, but now we are also working with customers in Ireland. In June Foursys held 2 workshops in Dublin and Cork to introduce customers to new security solutions from Sophos including a preview of Endpoint 9, new Email Appliances, new Web Appliances and Encryption solutions for laptops, desktops, email and USB data protection. Foursys plan to run more workshops later in the year in Ireland, especially as the Guinness Storehouse was such a good venue for customers in Dublin!

Foursys is focussed on providing solutions from leading vendors such as Sophos and Websense to customers in Ireland, so if you use these products now or are interested in evaluating them then call Foursys on 00 44 1223 810 910