SpamTitan Technologies WebTitan 4.0 Launch Imminent

On November 1, 2012, SpamTitan Technologies will be releasing WebTitan 4.0, the latest version of the powerful web filtering solution for business customers. The new version includes a host of additional features to make it easier than ever before for system administrators to manage Internet usage in the workplace and protect their networks from malware, viruses and cyberattacks.

The latest version includes new controls to manage bandwidth, with advanced reporting features, delegated administration, full transport authentication, and SNMP support. SpamTitan Technologies WebTitan 4.0 also boasts improved white labeling options.

Proxy mode now offers full transparent authentication

When developing WebTitan 4.0, product developers took on board comments from users and incorporated a host of new features to make management easier. The result is the most user-friendly version released to date and includes augmented controls to ensure businesses are better protected.

WebTitan 4.0 offers full transparent authentication when using the product in proxy mode. Users are able to generate advanced reports, as opposed to previous versions when reporting options for transparent proxies was IP based.

Administration functions can be easily configured

New delegated administration functionality has been added to reduce the burden on system administrators. Now the administration of WebTitan can be passed over to any stakeholder in the organization. All controls can be easily configured and individual users can be granted reporting rights, policy management privileges with the option of setting reporting rights to allow individuals to issue Internet usage reports for specific users or user groups.

When administrator rights have been configured, it is possible for reporting and policy management responsibilities to be delegated to individuals who have a better understanding of the best web filtering policies for specific groups of users, ensuring much improved cross-organizational participation.

Ensure enough bandwidth is available for business-critical applications

The latest version offers a host of improved corporate Internet policy functions to ensure that sufficient bandwidth is always available for business critical applications, with the option of setting quotas to prevent wastage. A host of Internet services are now available which can suck up bandwidth, such as video streaming, Internet radio and other media-rich applications.

These services can cause Internet access to slow considerably and often bottlenecks are created that reduce productivity. The new version has far greater granularity that allows users to allocate resources more efficiently and make considerable cost savings.

As Internet functions have evolved, the management of web filtering has become much more complex. Managing users and user groups can therefore be a major headache for system administrators. One of the main aims with the new release was to ease the administrative burden on system administrators. Web filtering can now be managed much more efficiently.

SpamTitan Technologies WebTitan 4.0 includes more complex functions, yet the user interface and controls are more intuitive and easier to learn. CEO of SpamTitan, Ronan Kavanagh, said the latest version has been created to “ensure our customers get the best end user web experience while organizations are fully protected from all malware as it emerges.”

The latest version makes it easier to add company branding to WebTitan. White label versions can be supplied to allow businesses to add their own branding and create a web filtering solution that matches the look of other systems used by their organization. Full SNMP support is also now included.

Competitive Pricing and a 30-Day No-Obligation Trial

Licenses for WebTitan 4.0 can be purchased to suit the needs of the business. There is no need to pay for IP addresses that will never be used. WebTitan 4.0 has a flexible banded pricing structure. Businesses can just pay for the number of end users who require Internet access.

The new version of WebTitan is now available for download with the option of a 30-day no obligation demo license for new customers.

The full licensed product starts from only $850 (WebTitan for Vmware 4.0 /WebTitan ISO). Previous purchasers with current licenses are able to upgrade to the latest version for no extra cost.

SpamTitan Technologies

SpamTitan Technologies is a provider of web filtering and email security solutions for the enterprise. The company, based in Galway, Ireland, offers a comprehensive suite of software options for small to medium sized organizations that offer protection from spam, phishing and other email and web-based data security threats. Customers can implement solutions that can be tailored to the unique needs of their businesses and receive excellent protection from malware, viruses, phishing, Trojans, and spambot attacks. Users can also be prevented from viewing undesirable web-content using WebTitan secure Internet filtering solutions.

The company uses next-generation virtualization software that can be easily implemented, operated and maintained, without the need for expensive and unwieldy hardware. The latest versions of the company’s popular software give system administrators excellent versatility and flexibility. The enhanced functionality and protection capabilities of WebTitan 4.0 can also be provided at an extremely competitive price.

1 in 6 Companies Have Fired Staff for Inappropriate Social Media Use

A recent survey conducted by SpamTitan Technologies indicates the vast majority of companies are prepared to terminate the contracts of employees for inappropriate social media use, such as exposing confidential data on social media networks. The corporate social media usage study showed that 87% of respondents would consider firing an employee for inappropriate social media use if company policies were violated.

Only 16% of companies think social media use at work is acceptable

The use of social media channels during work time is frowned upon by most companies. Many turn a blind eye to a little social media time during the working day, but only 16% of organizations taking part in the study said that they actually think it is acceptable for the staff to spend some time on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social media networks.

The threat of termination of employment contracts for misuse of social media, in particular the posting of confidential information or disparaging remarks about an employer, is not an empty one. According to a study conducted by Osterman Research, one company in six has already made the decision to terminate at least one employee’s contract for inappropriate use of social media in the workplace.

With the rise in popularity of websites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, it is understandable that members of staff with Internet access are tempted to spend a little of their working day checking their accounts. For many employers the main issue is not the loss of productivity that occurs as a result of inappropriate social media use. It is the security threat that inappropriate social media use introduces.

Malware is rife on Facebook

Social media websites are a honeypot for cybercriminals and malware is rife on the sites. Online criminals trawl Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn looking for corporate data, while phishers seek information that can be used to conduct spear phishing campaigns.

Twitter now has 145 million active users and Facebook has 845 million users around the world. Many of these users are accessing their accounts during working hours too. Osterman discovered that 36% of employees use part of their working day to check Facebook and that figure has increased by 28% over the course of the past year. Twitter and LinkedIn are also being used at work. There has been a 6% jump in Twitter use and a 7% hike in LinkedIn use in the workplace over the course of the past 12 months.

With so much social media use, it is clear that any company that has yet to develop a policy on acceptable use of social media networks during working hours will have to do so soon. Interestingly, while almost one in nine companies would be prepared to fire an employee for inappropriate social media use, only 22% actually have a policy in place covering the use of social media sites at work.

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube use carry major risks

The loss of productivity resulting from personal Internet time is considerable. A recent ISACA survey conducted on “Shopping on the Job” revealed that 40% of companies said the loss of productivity as a result of employees using websites for personal reasons was costing them at least $10,000 a year.

There is also the potential for damage to a company’s reputation. Take Domino’s Pizza for example. The company has just been forced to fire employees for posting a video of them playing with customer’s food at work. Even the clergy is not immune. A bishop was recently issued with a suspension for posting disparaging comments online – in this case the comments related to the Royal wedding of the Prince of Wales and Kate Middleton.

Perhaps the most damaging aspect of inappropriate social media use at work is the threat to corporate security. Facebook in particular is being used by unscrupulous individuals to spread viruses and malware. A link contained in a post about the latest viral video is sure to attract a lot of clicks. If that link directs people to a website containing malware, malicious software could easily be downloaded to a work computer. Installed malware could then be used to launch an attack on a corporate network.

How to control social media usage and protect corporate networks

There is no single solution to the problem of inappropriate social media use that can be adopted by all companies. Banning social media use entirely may be neither practical nor appropriate. Use of the networks can offer advantages, but the cons will outweigh the pros unless usage is monitored, managed and controlled. An Internet security policy is therefore essential to combat the increasing risk from viruses and malware. Companies are also advised to install a web filter. This will at least prevent users from visiting malware-ridden websites. It can also be used to block access to social media websites at work, should that be required.