Review: Trend Micro InterScan Web Security Suite

For: All-round web security for both content and malware
Against: High cost
Verdict: Good quality typical of Trend Micro products, but it comes with a slightly higher price tag than we expected

Threats such as spyware, viruses, worms, Trojans and phishing sites are all part of this product's profile. The suite scans protocols such as HTTP and FTP, as well as web-based email.

This solution comes in many different flavours and can install on many operating systems, including Linux and Windows. We found installation a fairly simple process.

Setup is run from an executable and is guided by a wizard. Once this is complete, further configuration is done through a nicely organised and intuitive-to-navigate management GUI.

The Web Security Suite sits at the gateway inline and can monitor all traffic, both inbound and outbound. Policy configuration can be based on Active Directory or LDAP users and groups, or a blanket policy can be put into place.

Policy configuration itself is quite simple as well, with most rule sets activated by ticking a box.

This product also features damage cleanup services, which can identify an infected machine on the network and isolate it to get rid of harmful content.

The InterScan Web Security Suite comes with solid documentation consisting of a getting-started guide and an administrator manual. The first nicely illustrates installation of the software and initial configuration, while the latter goes into great detail of post-installation configuration tasks. We found all the material to be well organised, with clear step-by- step instructions and many helpful screenshots.

Trend Micro offers a nice support area on its website, complete with email technical support contact details as well as several useful resources including downloads, documentation and access to tools such as damage cleanup templates and pattern files.

At a price of just over US$16,000 for 1,000 users, this product is an average value for money. While it does have some nice features, this is only the software piece, so a piece of hardware must be purchased for this product.

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