Security news6 December 1999
NEXOR names Sophos as first preferred virus scanning and prevention partner
NEXOR, an innovative supplier of secure electronic messaging and directory products, today announced it has chosen Sophos as its preferred anti-virus supplier. Today's announcement marks a programme that will see NEXOR formalise relationships with business partners recognised for their leadership in quality, expertise, strong branding, experienced staff and sound support systems.
Virus scanning is a fundamental feature of NEXOR Defender and NEXOR Interceptor secure messaging solutions. Under the terms of the partnership NEXOR will recommend Sophos Anti-Virus software to customers. The anti-virus software will be supplied as an integral part of NEXOR's products, with the company retaining overall control of the messaging technology.
Sophos will deal with customers directly for matters related to their anti-virus product, such as monthly updates on CD and interim virus alerts via email.
"This partnership is a clear example of our continuing growth and success, contributing directly to NEXOR's prime objective of firmly establishing the quality and reliability of its product range," said Tony Roadknight, Product Manager for NEXOR Defender.
"The technical superiority of Sophos's Anti-Virus combined with the company's flexibility, made Sophos the clear choice as our first preferred partner. Sophos provides the quality and expertise which complement our high standards," continued Tony.
Unlike most other anti-virus solutions, where pricing is dependent on the number of users, there is a fixed fee for use of Sophos's virus scanner within NEXOR's products.
This approach is more reliable than per user pricing structures which are often inaccurate because user numbers are difficult to determine in high-traffic systems. For large corporates like the US Treasury, currently evaluating NEXOR Interceptor, who receive more than 200,000 emails a day, it means a more user friendly and cost effective pricing model.
The virus scanning component of NEXOR Defender and NEXOR Interceptor is located in the mail server, giving a single point of management administered by trained staff rather than unqualified end-users. Checking messages at the boundary also screens information prior to its arrival at the desktop, so that any email-borne viruses are caught and cleaned just the once, at the gateway. Complete protection can be achieved by additional virus scanning at the desktop.
"We are delighted to be recognised by NEXOR as the first preferred partner capable of protecting against viruses distributed via email," said Graham Cluley, Senior Technology Consultant at Sophos. "We look forward to working closely with NEXOR, bringing the very best anti-virus protection and service to business and government organisations worldwide."
