Symantec Heads Into Hosted Waters

Based on its anti-spam and anti-virus technologies, the service adds to long-available server-based software, and gateway appliances and software.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based security giant touted the traditional benefits of hosted security. "Multiple threat defenses, such as anti-spam, anti-virus, and content filtering, combined with the easy management and deployment benefits inherent in a hosted solution, dramatically reduces the total cost of ownership associated with e-mail security," claimed Enrique Salem, senior vice president of security products, in a statement.

Included in Hosted Mail Security is BrightMail anti-spam technology, the company's Symantec AntiVirus technologies, and content filtering, attachment blocking, and encrypted file handling. A Web-based administrator console manages the service.

A Web interface is also available to end users, who can turn to it to handle quarantined mail and individual black- and whitelists. Alternately, the IT staff can generate automated e-mail digests to notify users of, say, mail that's been placed in quarantine.

Hosted Mail Security is licensed on a per-user, per-year basis, and is available now through Symantec's North American value-added resellers, distributors and systems integrators.