Aladdin eSafe Introduces Web 2.0 Application Controls
Organizations can now manage and control specific functions within Web 2.0 social networking applications.
Chicago-based Aladdin Knowledge Systems, a provider of identity and access management tools, announced that its Aladdin eSafe Web security solution has Web 2.0 application controls for social networking sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook.
With this latest update to Aladdin eSafe, businesses now have the capability to not just block or allow access to social networking sites, but to control specific functions within the sites. The latest release of Aladdin eSafe AppliFilter enables eSafe customers to restrict specific functionality such as Facebook’s “Invite a Friend” or “Add a Friend,” or LinkedIn’s “Huddle Workspace” application.†This level of control enables employees to use social networking sites without the risk of data leakage or misuse that comes from specific features, according to the company.
Recent studies have found that 85 percent of malware is currently being distributed through Web 2.0 applications. With the advent of Web 2.0 sites and their growing use in the corporate environment, businesses are finding it difficult to cope with the openness these sites bring–both from content being passed back and forth as well as from other security risks such as unscrutinized data that can turn malicious when rendered at the corporate browser. Allowing social networking sites as a way to empower and enhance business processes can now be balanced with enhanced security.
“Blocking social networking sites altogether is not an option for businesses today, creating the need for other means that enable access while enhancing productivity and preventing unnecessary data leakage,” says Graham Titterington, principal analyst at research firm Ovum. “Web 2.0 security is a growing concern as businesses struggle to control content in social networking sites and control corporate Web 2.0 sites, aggregation services, as well as the development of ad-hoc applications.”
“Employers understand that social networking sites can be a useful business tool, but many of the functions within them can†decrease productivity and increase security risks to data and identities,” says Ofer Elzam, CTO of content security at Aladdin Knowledge Systems. “Until now, the choices for controlling these sites have been limited to either absolute blocking or allowing of the site. The latest eSafe AppliFilter update now gives organizations the power to manage and control their employees’ access to specific aspects of Web 2.0 applications so they can minimize unnecessary risk and improve productivity while still capitalizing on the business and collaborative value these sites can bring.”
