Websense Simplifies Web Security for Small and Mid-sized Organisations
New Websense Express Delivers Intelligent, Easy to Deploy Web Security and Content Filtering to Organisations with Fewer than 250 Employees
Tweet-- Websense, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBSN) today launched a new solution, Websense® Express, priced and optimised for SMB organisations, as well as new resources tailored for customers and the channel partners who advise them. As a result, SMB organisations now have access to intelligent, yet easy to deploy software, backed by Websense’s comprehensive ThreatSeeker™ technology, designed to manage business Internet use – protecting organisations from emerging Web security threats while bolstering network bandwidth and productivity.
Websense’s move to secure SMB organisations is part of a corporate strategy to provide its enterprise-class Web security and content filtering solutions to previously underserved organisations. Websense Express delivers protection – within minutes of installation -- designed for organisations that have fewer than 250 Internet users [1].
SMB companies face unique security and resource challenges that leave them vulnerable to Internet threats. According to analyst firm Yankee Group, many SMB organisations are struggling with the security basics, while threats have become more sophisticated, launching attacks such as identity and data theft [2]. Counting on existing anti-virus and firewalls for protection has given organisations a false sense of security which, along with limited staffing resources and information technology (IT) budgets, has increased SMB companies’ exposure to malicious Web sites, spyware and other Internet threats that can cause data loss.
Additionally, as more dynamic and media-rich content is served over the Web, unmanaged Internet access can distract employees with non-work related activities. Access to bandwidth-intensive Web sites, including those with streaming video, online music and peer-to-peer file sharing, can hamper networks with limited bandwidth. These sites are also attractive locations for hackers to host malicious software that targets unsuspecting, unprotected users and organisations.
“SMB organisations face the same operational and security challenges as larger enterprises, but they have fewer resources at their disposal,” said Geoff Haggart, senior Vice President EMEA & APAC, Websense. “Websense is bringing these customers intelligent Internet protection available exclusively through their trusted channel partners and distributors. With this new software, Websense is protecting SMB customers from data loss caused by Web-based security threats and business-draining activities caused by unfettered Internet access. Availability in multiple languages, new channel enablement and training programs and enhanced customer experience through a new support portal will all drive the global appeal of the Websense Express solution.”
Websense today launched new:
- Websense Express software -- to protect organisations from emerging Web-based threats, to enhance user productivity and network bandwidth, to enforce Internet use policies, to mitigate information theft, and to reduce help desk calls and desk-side visits caused by computers infected with malicious code. Based on Internet and security threat intelligence developed for more than 10 years, Websense Express provides protection from Web-based threats – updated automatically each day – to keep customers protected without IT resource burdens. Priced and optimised for SMB customers, Websense Express can begin protecting organisations in as little as 30 minutes and includes more than 20 pre-defined management reports.
- Channel Partner Service Offerings –that offer Websense’s channel partners “how-to” guides that leverage channel partners’ existing best practices and services, to increase revenue-generating opportunities while enabling development of long-term relationships with SMB customers. Included is a new “Risk Analysis Service,” where channel partnerscan gain recurring revenue byproviding ongoinganalysis of Internet activity, identifying risks andproviding solutionsfor improvements in business process. Also available is a new “Security Planning and Policy Creation" service that helps channel partners to deploy and to optimise Websense Express along with a customer's existingIT infrastructure.
- On-Demand Customer support portal – through an enhanced self-service support portal, available to Websense Express customers through the management dashboard with a click of the mouse, organisations now have access to hundreds of new articles, video tutorials and other resources that open the way for more effective self-support – supplementing Websense’s telephone and channel partner support offerings. For the first time, the Websense support site offers consolidated search functionality acrossthe knowledge base, tips and tutorials, product documentation and whitepapers.
“With award-winning, out of the box security protection, easy and fast installation, a single server footprint, and the new self-help portal, Websense Express will quickly become a product of choice among the SMB clients looking for intelligent Internet protection,” said Sunil Pillai, General Manager, Select Technologies. “The changes that Websense has made for this product, such as flexible 10-user increment ordering and a ‘frictionless’ ordering process, will make it easier for us to do business with Websense and help our SMB clients.”
“Websense Express allows us to address the requirements of the SMB customers who are looking for an easy and intelligent solution for content filtering and protection against web threats, “ said Rajesh Kumar, Head, Products & Solutions, Inflow Technologies. “Our SMB clients will now benefit from Websense enterprise class technology at affordable prices that is quick to install and requires limited staffing resources.”
Customers and channel partners also have access to a new SMB Solutions Center, available at www.websense.com/smb which provides educational resources and access to a free 15-day Websense Express evaluation.
Availability
Websense Express is available today in English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese. Websense has recommended pricing at $22.00 per seat/per year for 1-250 users. Discounts are available for multi-year subscriptions.
[1] Other regions may vary.
[2] Source: Yankee Group, “SMBs Are Not Keeping Pace with a Rapidly Evolving Security Threat Landscape,” August 2006
Notes to Editor
About Websense, Inc.
Websense, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBSN) protects more than 25 million employees from external and internal computer security threats. Using a combination of preemptive ThreatSeeker™ malicious content identification and categorisation technology and information leak prevention technology, Websense helps make computing safe and productive. Distributed through its global network of channel partners, Websense software helpsorganisations block malicious code, prevent the loss of confidential information and manage Internet and wireless access. For more information, visit www.websense.com.