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Instant messaging (IM) allows instant communication between anyone, anywhere, faster than email. This immediate access makes it invaluable for business, but the technology has an important security hole. Messaging – and, similarly, peer to peer (P2P) – works by establishing a direct connection between two clients. That means that the communication between those two clients bypasses firewalls and servers – which is a problem with file transfers. Files transferred onto your network aren’t scanned for viruses; files going out aren’t restricted by the FTP server or logged to know who accessed them.
One way to control IM is to configure the firewall to block IM traffic. The firewall blocks the IM traffic based on the protocol, but enough different IM protocols exist that it can be difficult to block them all without a web filtering system. Even if the firewall is effectively blocking all IM traffic, all IM traffic is blocked. Firewalls cannot filter messaging like a web filtering system, only stop it, which means your employees aren’t able to use IM communication. Trying to block P2P connections is even less effective because firewalls, unlike web filter systems, only block incoming P2P requests. Some P2P applications can detect that the protocol is blocked on inbound traffic and initiate the connection on the outbound (allowed) HTTP port. |
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Your web filter should filter the IM content, not block the tool. iPrism recognizes both incoming and outbound sessions, so P2P can’t get around it, and the web filter actively inspects every packet, so every chat passes through it. This web filtering utility gives you control over your messaging tools.
iPrism web filter doesn’t block IM/P2P traffic; it actually filters the IM and P2P sessions, as it does with site content, through relevant web filtering:
- Customizable content web filter. iPrism web filtering offers completely customizable blocking for sensitive or inappropriate words and phrases to control information typed during the chat session.
- File blocking. iPrism web filtering can block files with an EXE or other specified extensions from being transferred, so viruses can’t be sent over an IM session.
- Web Filter Virus scanning. The IM sessions are virus scanned, using databases of known viruses that are updated every 10 minutes.
- Logging chat sessions. All chat sessions are logged and tracked.
- Web Filtering Notification and reports. Web filter notifications are sent every time iPrism intercepts blocked content or blocked file types, and reports can be generated on bandwidth usage, file transfers, and blocked file transfer attempts.
iPrism web filtering permits messaging while still keeping your network secure and maximizing the usefulness of your IM tools. The web filter fits the needs of your business, from completely blocking IM/P2P traffic to allowing free access, and everything in between.
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