Security news
Security news29 January 2003
Preventon and Sophos sign OEM agreement
Preventon expands its desktop security offering
Sophos, a world leader in corporate anti-virus protection, today announced its partnership with Preventon Technologies Ltd., the UK internet security specialist. Sophos and Preventon have worked together to produce a Preventon branded anti-virus product aimed at the SME and consumer markets. The product will be incorporated into Preventon Secure Internet Desktop Software (PSIDS), a new complete desktop security suite to be launched by Preventon early this year.
The Preventon branded anti-virus product will take advantage of Sophos's extensive anti-virus expertise and Preventon's knowledge of the security requirements of the home and SME users. The product will have a look and feel that is common to Preventon's brand, making the product very easy to use and customer focused.
Preventon has developed the product to include real-time on-access scanning. This technology runs on the desktop and ensures that all program files are free of known viruses as the user accesses them. Should any customers want to find out more about a virus, they will have access to the online Sophos virus library.
The Preventon solution takes advantage of Sophos's powerful virus finding technology. The Sophos virus engine provides easy to use, reliable virus protection. Its unique architecture intelligently determines which files need to be virus checked, maximising user transparency and minimising performance overhead.
Preventon has identified that the need for multi-layered security has increased drastically as blended threats become more and more common. Analyst group IDC agrees: "IDC believes that a layered security approach will create a defence stronger than its individual parts working separately."
Adrian Foulkes, CEO of Preventon Technologies comments: "Small to medium sizes business and home users are at risk from blended threats yet very few are protected against them. By utilising Sophos's anti-virus software as part of our complete desktop security product suite - PSIDS - we will give our customers access to a corporate level anti-virus product, all at an affordable price on their desktop."
Mark Forrest, sales and marketing director, Sophos, added: "We are delighted to be partnering with Preventon; their understanding of the markets combined with our powerful anti-virus product will enable us to offer customers a product that we feel will be unrivalled."
The anti-virus product will be an integral part of PSIDS and will be available to buy early 2003. The product will be available via subscription with selected ISPs, and via Preventon's website at www.preventon.com.
About Preventon Technologies Ltd.
Preventon Technologies Ltd. is an Internet security company, venture capital funded, operating from Reading's technology triangle, in the UK. The Preventon Desktop Security software was announced as a medallist winner in the 2002 British Computer Society Awards. Preventon Technologies Ltd. was selected by Red Herring, leading business technology magazine, as one of Europe's hottest 20 start-up companies, to present at Venture Market 2001 in London on 13th June 2001. For more information, visit www.preventon.com.
About Sophos
Sophos enables enterprises all over the world to secure and control their IT infrastructure. Sophos's network access control, endpoint, web and email solutions simplify security to provide integrated defenses against malware, spyware, intrusions, unwanted applications, spam, policy abuse, data leakage and compliance drift. With over 20 years of experience, Sophos protects over 100 million users in nearly 150 countries with its reliably engineered security solutions and services. Recognized for its high level of customer satisfaction and powerful yet easy-to-use solutions, Sophos has received many industry awards, as well as positive reviews and certifications.
Sophos is headquartered in Boston, US and Oxford, UK. More information is available at www.sophos.com
