Small- to mid-sized companies on the Masergy global network are gaining detailed application control, Web traffic monitoring, and enhanced firewall features. The announcement was made this week by virtualized network services provider Masergy, which announced its new Intelligent Internet Management (IIM) offering.
IIM is a network-based Internet security and content control solution suitable for SMBs. Designed to simplify network security and optimize bandwidth, the offering provides hosted services that include network visibility and application control.
“Internet traffic from non-business related websites can greatly impact an enterprise’s productivity,” explains Masergy in a press release submitted to Channel Pro-SMB, “while service-affecting attacks from malicious code jeopardize security and can shut down a corporate network.”
The company adds, “Deploying and managing premise-based firewalls creates a significant cost for IT departments, which can no longer isolate the corporate network from the outside world to protect business information.”
Masergy’s IIM aims to address these issues via three centralized applications:
- Application Control — Bandwidth for individual applications (i.e., YouTube, Facebook, and other social sites) can be permitted, blocked or restricted.
- Web Security — SMBs are enabled to enhance network protection by proactively blocking access to sites known to host malware and other threats.
- Network-Based Firewall — Security appliances embedded in the Masergy network eliminate the need for an investment in on-premise hardware and software.
Additional features include:
- Masergy’s POPs to ensure network reliability and security. †
- The ability to add new sites or upgrade bandwidth.
- Granular filter and application control.
- Detailed reporting to enhance network analysis and meet compliance requirements.
- IPsec and SSL VPNs.
- User-friendly interface.
“With Intelligent Internet Management, companies go beyond typical network firewalls to gain more explicit control over application access and Web traffic, while optimizing bandwidth and maximizing application performance,” explains John Dumbleton, Masergy’s senior vice president of business development.
