Instant messaging security service

Symantec has released its MessageLabs Instant Messaging Security Service (IMSS), an instant messaging (IM) security, control and management service that will enable businesses to adopt a safer, auditable use of public IM networks.

The fully managed, fully customisable service provides a suite of capabilities including anti-malware, URL filtering, content control, message logging and reporting. All instant messages are logged and can be sent to an existing archiving solution to aid the traceability of all public IM communications, equipping organisations to satisfy legal discovery requirements and archive compliance with relevant regulations.

Key features of MessageLabs Instant Messaging Security Service include: operates with market-leading public IM networks; delivers multi-layer protection against known and unknown converged threats propagated via public IM networks; incorporates intuitive policy-building capability, including stacking of multiple rules; detailed reporting functionality, fully integrated with all other MessageLabs services; doesn’t require downloading of an agent or software to a network and it simple to set up, use and administer, and to introduce firewall rules that prevent employees bypassing the service.