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Chris McKie
WatchGuard Technologies
206.613.3760
Jimme Peters
24/7 Consulting
503.289.5354
WatchGuard Enhances Security Software
Fireware XTM OS Update Provides Enhanced Security Capabilities and Improved Management Functions – Ideal for MSSPs and Enterprise Organizations
SEATTLE – January 29, 2010. WatchGuard® Technologies, a global leader of business security solutions, today released a significant upgrade of its multifunction firewall appliance operating system, Fireware XTM, which includes new security capabilities and improved management functions. With this new release, businesses gain the ability to block multiple instant messaging applications, as well as gain a myriad of management, reporting and logging features.
"WatchGuard continues to innovate and improve on its industry leading security appliances that protect business networks, applications and data," said Tim Helming, Director of Product Management, WatchGuard Technologies. "With this latest version of Fireware XTM, businesses gain greater control over unauthorized IM applications and superior logging and reporting for today's stringent audit and compliance requirements."
Addressing security and productivity holes associated with unauthorized instant messaging and file-sharing use, the new WatchGuard Fireware XTM release allows administrators to block Skype connections to and from protected hosts. This new feature adds to the current ability to block pernicious IM and file-sharing applications, such as: AIM, Yahoo! Messenger, Microsoft Messenger, BitTorrent, Kazaa and others.
For managed security service providers (MSSPs) and remote administrators, the new Fireware XTM now offers a customizable, browser-based interface for reporting. This streamlines the ability to generate a variety of historic or on-demand reports without having to install any special reporting software.
Additionally, MSSPs and enterprise customers often require scalability and high availability of log and reports databases. With the new WatchGuard System Manager (WSM) that comes with Fireware XTM, the PostGRE databases for logging and reporting can be hosted on a separate PC from the log and report servers, which provides higher performance on the log/report servers as well as the database server. Furthermore, this allows for easier backup or even clustering of the server host.
Lastly, the new management features in Fireware XTM allow for health monitoring of the WatchGuard System Manager Log, Report, and Management servers. This provides notification to MSSPs and administrators who need to ensure highly aggressive service levels.
The new release of Fireware XTM is available now free of charge to customers with current LiveSecurity subscriptions for supported devices at www.watchguard.com/products/fireware-xtm.asp
About WatchGuard Technologies, Inc.
Since 1996, WatchGuard® Technologies, Inc. has been the advanced technology leader of business security solutions, providing mission-critical protection to hundreds of thousands of businesses worldwide. The WatchGuard family of wired and wireless unified threat management appliances, messaging, content security and SSL VPN remote access solutions provide extensible network, application and data protection, as well as unparalleled network visibility, management and control. WatchGuard products are backed by WatchGuard LiveSecurity® Service, an innovative support, maintenance, and education program. WatchGuard is headquartered in Seattle and has offices serving North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. To learn more, visit www.watchguard.com.
WatchGuard is a registered trademark of WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. All other marks are property of their respective owners.
