Proofpoint Virus Protection

Features:

World-class anti-virus engines
Proofpoint provides several options for its Virus Protection module through strategic partnerships with leading anti-virus vendors, giving customers a choice of enterprise-class anti-virus software solutions to be installed and configured within the Proofpoint Protection Server software or Proofpoint Messaging Security Gateway appliance.

These world-class anti-virus engines are the same as those used in their respective commercial products, ensuring that your company is strongly protected against dangerous viruses and other types of malicious code.

Efficient message analysis
The anti-virus engines are designed to efficiently scan messages and attachments for potentially malicious code. Because the Virus Protection module is fully integrated into Proofpoint's email security platform, each message is opened just once and virus scanning is performed in parallel with other forms of message analysis (such as spam and content compliance scanning). This in-memory processing minimizes latency and improves the system's overall scalability delivering optimal, enterprise-grade performance.

Continuous virus-detection updates
As our anti-virus vendor partners create new virus definitions, the Proofpoint Dynamic Update Service™ provides updates to deployed Proofpoint Protection Servers and Proofpoint Messaging Security Gateways via a secure channel. The Dynamic Update Service guarantees that Proofpoint Virus Protection is always up-to-date, providing the maximum defense against viruses—and minimizing the burden on IT administrators. Proofpoint's anti-virus partners provide some of the fastest product-ready anti-virus updates in the industry, and the Proofpoint Dynamic Update Service makes them available to you immediately.

Integrated, centralized administration
Proofpoint's anti-virus module is fully integrated into Proofpoint's message processing platform, providing complete control over virus protection through a unified interface. The Proofpoint Messaging Security Console™ lets you configure all aspects of virus protection-including virus filtering activity, detection and cleaning processes, disposition options, and reporting—with the same interface used for spam and content compliance administration.

Administration duties can also be optionally delegated to other groups. For example, while IT may manage general email and anti-spam settings, a corporate security group could selectively manage anti-virus settings.

Technology:

Enterprise-grade Virus Protection
Proofpoint's anti-virus functionality protects your enterprise from harmful viruses right out of the box. The Virus Protection module provides the utmost protection and message handling efficiency by employing the following three-step process:

Policy definition
Proofpoint Virus Protection lets you quickly create new anti-virus policies or easily import existing virus protection policies.

Real-time monitoring
The Virus Protection module efficiently monitors the email stream for virus threats while definitions are automatically kept up-to-date by the Proofpoint Dynamic Update Service.

Custom dispositions
Proofpoint Virus Protection gives your enterprise the flexibility it needs to classify and route messages based on numerous virus detection message states, such as sending infected messages to quarantine or stripping destructive attachments.

Supported Anti-virus Engines
Proofpoint Virus Protection is available for the hardware appliance, virtual appliance and software versions of Proofpoint's email security solution, powered by either F-Secure of McAfee anti-virus engines.

Compare:

Comprehensive Virus Protection
Proofpoint understands that an effective defense against today's virus threats requires more than just signature-based protection or outbreak filters. Proofpoint provides comprehensive protection from malicious code through a combination of technologies and information services.

Proofpoint Virus Protection Module
Proofpoint provides signature-based protection using leading anti-virus engines from F-Secure or McAfee:

• Continually updated protection against the latest viral threats
• Scan both inbound and outbound "zombie" traffic
• Flexible policy and dispositions

Proofpoint Zero-Hour Anti-Virus Module
Provides also immediate protection from emerging viruses, powered by advanced pattern recognition technology from Commtouch. Our solution offers:

• Early, accurate detection of new virus hours before competing solutions even begin to react.
• Fine-grained policy control.
• Consolidated, correlated reporting.
• Lowest total cost of ownership compared to competing zero-day solutions and reporting tools to help you quantify your ROI.

Virus Lifecycle Information
Proofpoint provides up-to-date information on viruses in the wild and the state of virus-related threats affecting your enterprise:

• Alerts and news channels to educate your users
• Centralized reporting for 360 degree view of virus activity affecting your enterprise

Diagram:

How Proofpoint Virus Protection Works with Proofpoint Zero-Hour Anti-Virus Software

Components:

Proofpoint Virus Protection at a glance

Screenshots:

Flexible Anti-Virus Rule

Documentation:

Download the Proofpoint Virus Protection Datasheet (PDF).