IBM Internet Security Systems Expands Desktop Protection with Additional Antivirus and Anti-Spyware Features

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced it has incorporated additional features for antivirus and anti-spyware into its Internet Security Systems(TM) Proventia(R) Desktop Endpoint Security product. The combined feature set will provide customers with a comprehensive desktop protection solution. As a result of an alliance with BitDefender, IBM Internet Security Systems will complement its spyware blocking technology and patented, behavioral-based Virus Prevention System (VPS) with BitDefender's anti-spyware and antivirus solutions.


Internet Security Systems VPS technology is designed to be highly effective at preventing unknown zero-day attacks from entering a corporate network, blocking well over 90 percent of new viruses without a signature update on a typical network. The new layers of protection from BitDefender will provide customers with capabilities for scanning and removing known viruses and spyware from their systems.

"In today's complicated threat landscape, no single layer of security can adequately protect an organization from attack," said Greg Adams, vice president of product development for IBM Internet Security Systems. "However, the continual purchase of incompatible security products and endpoint agents can quickly become unbearable for enterprises to manage. As a solution to these opposing issues, we continue to add layers of protection to our existing integrated security platform to provide customers with a robust, centrally managed security solution that can help them avoid the need to implement additional products to deal with each emerging threat."

Proventia Desktop currently offers the combined functionality of personal firewall, intrusion prevention, buffer overflow exploit prevention, application and communications protection and virus prevention technologies. Through this alliance with BitDefender for additional antivirus and anti-spyware capabilities, IBM Internet Security Systems answers the market demand for comprehensive desktop protection in a single agent. The various layers of the product are designed to work together seamlessly and automatically combat the myriad of threats encountered on workstations and laptops.

"For each type of security technology (firewalls, antivirus, anti-spyware, etc.), there are attackers who are constantly working on ways to evade it to obtain unauthorized access to a network," said Eric Eder, founder and CTO of Intelligent Connections, an IBM partner. "Attack vectors designed to exploit each type of technology require a multi-layered security model for protection. Proventia Desktop provides a multi-layered security approach with deployment of a single agent and unified management, which can lower administrative overhead and associated costs. If a threat is designed to bypass one type of security technology, it can be thwarted by a series of other blocking technologies as it attempts to infiltrate the target machine. We are excited to offer our customers such powerful desktop protection in a single agent."

Through its Proventia protection platform, IBM Internet Security Systems provides comprehensive, multi-layered protection for enterprises from network to host. By infusing all of its products with security intelligence from the Internet Security Systems X-Force(R) research and development group, IBM's solution is designed to protect customers ahead of the threat, before their business assets are impacted by online intrusions. Through its unique Virtual Patch(R) technology, IBM helps shield business assets from attack until companies are able to schedule time to apply patches from affected vendors. With these additional antivirus and anti-spyware features in Internet Security Systems Proventia Desktop, and the end-point compliance and provisioning capabilities from Tivoli, IBM delivers a robust set of security features for the desktop.

Proventia Desktop with new antivirus and anti-spyware features is scheduled to be available by the end of the year. Antivirus and anti-spyware content updates will be made available via annual subscription. Further information on Proventia Desktop can be found at: http://iss.net/products/Proventia_Desktop/index.html

About IBM Internet Security Systems

IBM Internet Security Systems is the trusted security advisor to thousands of the world's leading businesses and governments, providing pre-emptive protection for networks, desktops and servers. An established leader in security since 1994, the IBM Proventia(R) integrated security platform is designed to automatically protect against both known and unknown threats, helping to keep networks up and running and shielding customers from online attacks before they impact business assets. IBM Internet Security Systems products and services are based on the proactive security intelligence of its X-Force(R) research and development team - the unequivocal world authority in vulnerability and threat research. The Internet Security Systems product line is also complemented by comprehensive Managed Security Services and Professional Security Services. For more information, visit the Internet Security Systems Web site at http://www.iss.net or call 800-776-2362.

Internet Security Systems is a trademark and Proventia, X-Force and Virtual Patch are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. All other companies and products mentioned are trademarks and property of their respective owners.