Recommended: Click here to improve PC speed »
As a result, Websense offers a powerful set of content security solutions thatintelligently protect customers from external malicious attacks and internalinformation leaks, delivered as downloadable software, on an appliance, and now asan on-demand hosted service. With the acquisition of SurfControl, Websense hasdoubled its customer base to more than 50,000 organizations worldwide and nowprotects content for more than 42 million employees.
The company s products now include a complete set of content protection solutions,including Web security, e-mail and spam filtering, and information leak prevention,tailored to meet the specific requirements of small, medium and enterprise-sizedorganizations . Over time, Websense plans to enhance SurfControl s on-demandplatform to deliver other hosted content protection services, such as informationleak prevention services and advanced Web security offerings based on Websense ThreatSeeker technology.
SurfControl s on-demand platform also bolsters Websense s ability to discoverInternet-based threats. Websense is the technology leader in Web threat discovery. Websense ThreatSeeker technology scans more than 600 million Web sites per weekidentifying and categorizing Web-based security threats. SurfControl s on-demandplatform, which processes more than 350 million emails per week, gives Websense morevisibility into email-based threats such as spam. The combination of Websense andSurfControl technologies offers unparalleled Internet threat intelligence spanningboth the Web and email.
Over the last year, Websense dramatically expanded its product portfolio to offer afull range of content protection software, Web security, messaging security, andinformation leak prevention, said Brian Burke, Program Director, Security Productsand Services, IDC. Adding technologies and delivery platforms in high-growthcontent security markets provides its customers and channels with a broader range ofsecurity options. It also helps Websense further carve out its unique niche in thebroader IT security market.
Content is the lifeblood of business, and its value makes it the next battlegroundin security, said Gene Hodges, CEO, Websense. Only Websense offers customerscontent protection solutions that combine deep knowledge of the Internet withprecise understanding of their information to create powerful policies that governwho can use content, where it can go, and how it can get there. We will leveragethese capabilities, as well as our increased scale and international reach, to drivecontinued innovation in content protection and meet the challenges of a changingthreat environment.
Websense also today announced a five-point pledge to SurfControl customers. Specifically, Websense pledged:
support for SurfControl s flagship products SurfControl Web Filter and MobileFilter through 2011 enhanced database functionality for SurfControl Web Filter and Mobile Filter bysupplementing the SurfControl database with Websense s own comprehensive URLdatabase of more than 30 million Web sites, including more than 200,000 high-risksites by the first calendar quarter of 2008 price protection for the first renewal of current SurfControl Web Filter and MobileFilter subscriptions continued investment and development in SurfControl E-mail Filter and SurfControlon-demand products, MailControl and WebDefense forums for on-going customer communication, focusing on the quality of support andproduct direction, including a new integration Web portal for SurfControl customersavailable on the Internet at www.websense.com/acquisition.
We hope to prove to SurfControl customers and resellers that Websense is atrustworthy partner with the vision, products, support and services to play anexpanded role in their security strategy, added Hodges. After five months ofintegration planning, we re ready to demonstrate our support for SurfControlcustomers and resellers and take the next steps to deliver on our vision andstrategy.
The transaction is being financed through a combination of Websense s existing cashresources and a $210 million term loan under a syndicated senior credit facilityarranged for by Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. and Bank of America NA assyndication agent. The term loan is expected to close on October 11, 2007.
