Barracuda Networks IM Firewall Overview

• IM traffic identification and archiving
• Public IM management
• A private and secure IM server/network
• Keyword identification and reporting
• Interoperability with public IM networks
• Unified client for all IM networks
• Secure file transfer

Instant Messaging Firewall Overview:

The Barracuda Instant Messaging (IM) Firewall is an integrated IM server and gateway solution that is powerful, easy to use, and affordable for businesses of all sizes. It will easily and completely identify and manage all IM traffic within your organization. Eliminate the security, virus, or compliance risks of instant messaging while harnessing the communications and productivity benefits for which IM has become an indispensable asset.

Powerful Complete Solution:

The Barracuda IM Firewall combines an internal IM server and client with management and security measures to form the most complete instant messaging solution available. The Barracuda IM Firewall provides:

• IM traffic identification and logging
• Public IM management
• A private and secure IM server/network
• Keyword Notification and Content Management
• Access to internal and all public IM networks from a single client
• Secure file transfer

Most IM products provide either an IM server for secure internal instant messaging within your organization, or an IM gateway to identify, log, and report on existing IM traffic. The Barracuda Instant Messaging Firewall is a secure IM server with a feature rich IM management solution in an appliance format. This two tiered approach provides organizations not just a fix, but a complete solution.

Easy to Use:

The Barracuda IM Firewall is easy to set up and rollout to your users. It has an intuitive user interface for maintenance and monitoring, making it a virtually administration-free solution. User deployment features, such as an email rollout tool, allow users to have the client installed and connected in minutes. System updates are delivered automatically by Barracuda Central, an advanced technology center where engineers work continuously to provide the most effective methods to identify and control public IM traffic and combat ever changing virus variants. Updates are distributed hourly so that you are always protected against the latest threats.

Affordable:

Large and small organizations alike demand solutions that are affordable not just today, but also in the future as they grow. The Barracuda Instant Messaging Firewall enables organizations to grow without having to worry about increasing user license fees. With no per user license fees, the Barracuda Instant Messaging Firewall is the most affordable secure IM server and management solution available.

Instant Messaging Server:

Integrated instant messaging server provides companies with a secure internal IM network. Internal messages need never leave the corporate network, and are protected by industry leading 256 bit encryption. The Barracuda IM Client is easy to install and deploy and extremely user friendly, making user adaptation a breeze.

Security:

The Barracuda IM Firewall offers the highest level of message encryption available on any IM product. Its 256 bit message encryption ensures that your corporate messages remain private as long as you are using the Barracuda IM Client. The client provides users security even outside their corporate network from anywhere on the Internet.

Logging/Reporting:

With the Barracuda IM firewall all instant messaging traffic on your network is logged.

Public IM Controls:

Control of public IM services such as AOL, Yahoo, and MSN has become essential in order to maintain network security, message confidentiality, and protection against viruses. The Barracuda Instant Messaging Firewall provides the ability to log or block public IM services, scan public IM traffic for viruses, and manage the identities of public IM users on your network.

Keyword Tools:

Keyword notification and content management tools ensure that your users are adhering to your internal policies and government compliance regulations. Key words, phrases, and regular expressions can be identified, removed, or blocked entirely within IM conversations. If a policy violation is committed, the appropriate parties can be notified via email or IM. All policy violations are logged and noted.

Central Administration:

The Barracuda Instant Messaging Firewall features an easy-to-use Web interface allowing for easy and cost effective administration of the appliance. The Web interface allows you to define, manage and control corporate IM policies from one central place.

• Barracuda Energize Updates. A team of security engineers at Barracuda Central continuously monitors the Internet for trends in IM and virus attacks. As they detect trends, updates are created for the Barracuda IM Firewall. The Barracuda IM Firewall is then automatically updated with new IM rules, Public IM IP address ranges and ports, and virus definitions. These updates require zero administration and ensure that your network has comprehensive and accurate protection.
• Logs and Graphical Reports System. administrators can view logs or generate graphical reports to provide visibility within the organization. The Barracuda Instant Messaging Firewall can provide information on IM conversations, public IM access, file transfers, presence, viruses, and more.
• No Per User Charges. Barracuda Instant Messaging Firewall pricing is simple. Each Barracuda IM Firewall is designed to handle an approximate number of users. The Barracuda IM Firewall includes a robust feature set at one fixed price with no per user charges. This means the system administrator no longer has to worry about keeping track of new accounts.

End User Controls:

The Barracuda IM Firewall provides administrators the ability not only to set IM policies, but to set default end user preferences to maintain a uniform IM deployment across your organization.

Rollout Tools:

Unlike other client side technologies, rolling out and installing client side software is simple. Administrators can chose to roll the client out to users via an email containing the download link, install instructions and the users username and password. Installation is as simple as clicking next, next, and finish. The zero configuration installer automatically knows the name of the server to which that user will connect. The Barracuda Roster Push tool can be used to populate the roster of a user or entire groups with relevant contacts before first log on.