McAfee targets application security

Enterprise security vendor McAfee has announced an extension to its general purpose VirusScan Enterprise range, aimed at protecting specific mission-critical applications.

The first three new products supported will be, VirusScan Enterprise for Offline Virtual Images, VirusScan Enterprise for SAP NetWeaver, and VirusScan Enterprise for Storage.

The move was prompted by the way threats had evolved from "mass mailing viruses to more targeted attacks and threats targeting OS vulnerabilities, to attacks against applications," said McAfee's product management vice president, Rees Johnson.

VirusScan Enterprise for Offline Virtual Images will secure offline virtual operating system images, which could become reliant on out-dated patches during periods of inactivity. "Imagine somebody going on maternity leave, then coming back and firing up an unpatched virtual desktop. This software automatically patches offline virtual images periodically, so they won't compromise security when they are booted up," said Sal Viveros, a security expert at McAfee.

Viveros added that Citrix, Microsoft and VMware systems will be supported.

For the storage market, McAfee's new product VirusScan Enterprise for Storage, will scan and disinfect files before they are written to the storage. "It'll reside in front of the storage controller," said Viveros.

The system will also use real-time malware scanning hoping to avoid propagating malware to other parts of enterprise's IT infrastructure. Viveros said that support at this time would be for EMC, NetApp, and Sun storage systems.

The final system is aimed at protecting SAP's NetWeaver platform, McAfee citing as an example VirusScan Enterprise for use with SAP NetWeaver, being able to prevent uploads into the system, like infected CVs, from compromising SAP's system.

Beta versions of the software will be available in July, with full versions pencilled to ship by the year's end.

See also:

McAfee highlights the price of stolen data

UK bank account holding £12,000 on sale for just £800  12 May 2008

Google unveils business security tools

Google adds enterprise web filtering to Apps offering  09 May 2008

CEOs underestimating security risks

Icann president launches new best practice guide for business leaders  07 May 2008

Secure virtualisation at VMworld

McAfee and Tripwire launch their security initiatives at the show  27 Feb 2008

McAfee predicts 2008's worst security threats

Social sites likely to be big targets for cyber criminals  16 Nov 2007

Symantec buys into DLP

Vontu acquisition helps it keep pace with Trend, Websense, McAfee and others  06 Nov 2007

McAfee announces new security risk management solution

McAfee's new security platform offers management and compliance within a single platform  17 Sep 2007

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