Profile: Websense Inc (WBSN.O)

Websense, Inc. is a provider of Web filtering and security, data loss prevention (DLP), and e-mail anti-spam and security solutions. The Company’s products and services protect organizations’ employees and critical business data from external Web-based and e-mail-based attacks, and from internal employee-generated threats, such as employee errors and malfeasance. Its portfolio of products allows customers to prevent access to undesirable and dangerous elements on the Web, identify and remove malicious applications from incoming Web traffic, prevent the unauthorized use and loss of sensitive data, filter spam out of incoming e-mail traffic, filter viruses and other malicious attachments from e-mail and instant messages, manage the use of non-Web Internet traffic, protect from spam and malware embedded in Web-based user-generated content and control misuse of an organization’s valuable computing resources. Its subsidiary is SurfControl plc.

Web Filtering and Web Security

Web filtering and security solutions use policy enforcement software in conjunction with its databases of categorized Websites, protocols and malicious applications to automate the enforcement of customized Internet and application use policies for different users and groups within the business. Its systems scan 180 million Websites and 100 million e-mails daily for new Web-based and e-mail-based threats. Websense Web Filter enables employers to analyze, report, and manage employee access to Websites based on the content of the requested Website. A graphical interface enables business managers to define the categories of Websites to which access will be managed. The management options include allow, block, time based quotas, continue with exception report and time of day.

Websense Web Security

Websense Web Security combines the functionality and database categories of the basic Websense Web Filter with additional security-specific categories, as well as several additional services, including Real Time Security Updates and Websense Web Protection Services, for a bundled price. Security categories add to the basic Web filtering database categories with categories for spyware and phishing Websites, as well as sites compromised with malicious code. Real Time Security Updates allow subscribing organizations to receive database updates for Web-based and application-based threats in real time as they are identified and categorized by the Websense Security Labs.

The SiteWatcher and BrandWatcher services monitor customers’ Websites and brands for malicious code or illegal use in a phishing attack and notify the customer if either occurs. Websense Web Security Gateway allows organizations to secure Web traffic while still enabling Web-based tools and applications for business and other productive use. Websense Express is its Web filtering and security solution for small and medium sized businesses (SMB). Websense Hosted Web Security is a managed software service that directs a customer’s Website requests to a centralized server hosted by Websense that provides Web malware protection and granular Web filtering.

Data Security

Data security products protect against the loss of confidential information due to internal threats, such as inadequate business process controls, employee error and malfeasance, and undetected malicious code embedded in the network. Websense Data Security Suite is an integrated DLP solution that protects against data loss by identifying and categorizing sensitive or confidential data based on its characteristics, monitoring the movement of sensitive data throughout the network and enforcing pre-determined usage and movement policies. The Websense Data Security Suite includes built-in policy templates for easy, out-of-the-box policy creation. The Websense Data Security Suite is available in four modules: Data Discover, Data Monitor, Data Protect and Data Endpoint.

Websense Data Discover provides organizations with discovery and classification of confidential information stored on the network desktops, laptops, and file servers. Websense Data Monitor provides enterprise-wide auditing of an array of communications channels, including the Web, e-mail, network printing, and instant messaging. Websense Data Protect includes Websense Data Monitor, and supplements that with built-in, automated policy enforcement to secure how and where an organization’s data travels. Websense Data Endpoint extends its DLP technology to the endpoint, including the ability to discover, monitor, and protect confidential data whether the user is on or off the network.

Email and Messaging Security

Email and Messaging Security solutions include its on-premise and hosted e-mail filtering solutions to provide protection from spam and viruses, as well as basic inbound and outbound content filtering that enforces corporate governance policies. The information is compiled through ThreatSeeker Network, which is used to detect and stop unwanted e-mails that contain inappropriate and malicious uniform resource locator (URL). Websense Hosted Email Security is a managed service that directs customer e-mail traffic to a centralized server hosted by Websense that filters e-mail traffic without the need for the customer to install software on an on-site server in order to protect against viruses, spam, and phishing before they reach the customers’ network. Websense Email Security is a software-based gateway solution that filters outbound and inbound e-mail traffic to perform content filtering and policy enforcement within an organization.

The Company competes with Microsoft, Symantec/Message Labs, McAfee/Secure Computing, Cisco Systems, Juniper Networks, Trend Micro, Google, BrightCloud, ScanSafe, Blue Coat Systems, Aladdin, Finjan, FaceTime, Mi5 Networks, St. Bernard Software, Marshal8e6, Clearswift, Sophos, Barracuda, Digital Arts, Computer Associates, WatchGuard, Check Point Software, SonicWALL, Network Box, Symantec, Verdasys, Vericept, EMC, IBM, Proofpoint, Palisade Systems, Orchestria, Raytheon, Intrusion, Fidelis, GTB Technologies, Workshare, Code Green Networks, Axway/Tumbleweed, MX Logic, BorderWare, Webroot, Purewire, and Zscaler.