Trend in new approach to combat virus threats
By Shyla Sangaran
24th December 2001 (Computimes)

ANTI-VIRUS and security software outfit Trend Micro Inc is adopting a new approach to combat virus threats by offering integrated content security in its solutions and services.

Its country sales manager Wong Joon Hoong said the new approach is necessary as viruses today can no longer be rectified by using anti-virus products alone. He added that most of the viruses are more intelligent in nature and is thus important to provide pro-active services to combat these malicious code.

"Conventional virus behaviour used to be infected through electronic mail (e-mail) attachments, but today's viruses such as Nimda and Code Red are spreading speedily and getting more harmful by attacking the network server and the Internet gateway," he said, adding that today's hackers are smart as they know that firewalls do not have the capability to detect viruses or contents.

Under the new approach, Trend Micro has introduced four layers of infrastructure to help address the virus attacks in corporations. The layers comprise the Internet gateway, groupware messaging file and storage server and desktop. These layers are addressed with Web security, messaging security, storage security and access code respectively.

Wong said Trend Micro will be applying the breakthrough technology of CodeNext, which is a synchronised multi-layered anti-virus and content security. It helps organisational mapping, delegating flexible central control and minimises management burden with knowledge smart automation.

The first product introduced three weeks ago under the CodeNext strategy was InterScan Messaging Security Suite (IMSS), an outbreak prevention policy solution.

IMSS' proactive protection eliminates 3am wake-up calls, minimises the window for new treats and gives sufficient time to update pattern file.

Wong said by the first quarter of next year, the company is expecting more than 10 customers to adopt the IMSS. The customers, he added, are expected to be from major corporations, telecommunications companies, banks, government departments, and small and medium-sized companies (SMEs).

With the move, Trend Micro is looking at achieving 75 per cent share in the gateway market, Wong said. The same target is applied to the worldwide market. Currently, the company claims 63 per cent share of the local market.