FaceTime Unified Security Gateway Named Best Anti-Malware Gateway by Network Testing Labs

BELMONT, CA--(Marketwire - October 7, 2008) - Network Testing Labs (Mobile, Ala.) has awarded FaceTime Communications' Unified Security Gateway (USG) top honors in its recent live testing and review of the secure Web gateway appliance. The review was based on six key criteria in Web security: identifying and thwarting malware, performance, ease of use, reports, deployment and documentation.

To initiate the test, Network Testing Labs collected hundreds of malware samples and recorded the USG's capability to identify and prevent inbound malware traffic. The test also recorded how USG handled "phone home" attempts, when the spyware on client machines attempted to send data back to the source. All types of malware were tested including keystroke loggers, browser hijackers, bots, root kits, adware, spyware, dialers, data miners, and Trojans. Awarding FaceTime its "World Class Award" for gateway anti-malware, Network Testing Labs noted the USG's "unerring accuracy and quick, unobtrusive performance."

In all efficacy tests for the detection of malware, instant messaging protocols, and P2P protocols, the USG delivered between 98 and 100 percent accuracy. The report concluded that USG is a "superior gateway-architecture security tool for thwarting malware and controlling access, via corporate policy, to inappropriate Web sites and protocols. It's accurate, easy to use, scalable and very cost effective."

The full report is available for download from FaceTime Communications at this link: http://www.facetime.com/forms/usg_ntlrpt_request.aspx.

FaceTime's USG is a secure Web gateway appliance that gives organizations visibility and control over employee use of the new Internet. USG integrates management, security and compliance of Web communications, consumer-driven applications such as social networking, Web 2.0, instant messaging, Skype and P2P, and enterprise-class collaborative suites such as Microsoft Office Communications Server and IBM Lotus Sametime. The appliance allows organizations to enable safe and productive use of the Web and more than 700 Internet applications, by protecting the network against malware, mitigating information leakage risks and ensuring that corporate, regulatory and e-discovery needs are met.

Quickest Performing Secure Web Gateway

With fewer than 28 to 40 milliseconds latency for executable file detection and fewer than ten milliseconds latency when detecting URLs, the report notes that FaceTime's USG is one of the "quickest performing Secure Web Gateway products on the market. This results in an overall throughput of 575 Megabits per second on the midrange platform. Instead of sitting inline and potentially delaying traffic, the USG is deployed in passby mode where it enforces policies set by the IT administrator."

The report also points out that "client responsiveness was virtually unaffected by the presence of the gateway."

Effectiveness and Flexibility

The testing report states that the "Unified Security Gateway stopped malware cold," also noting that the appliance provided an "absolute, fine-as-we-wished control over the social networking and other non-business Web sites and protocols we deemed inappropriate for our corporate network."

USG detected 100 percent of malware over IM and P2P protocols and "thwarted all spyware regardless of channel of propagation (IM, P2P, HTTP). It went a step further to block phone home attempts, thus stopping the transmission of hijacked data and online advertising server requests."

About Network Testing Labs

Network Testing Labs performs independent technology research and product evaluations. Its network laboratory connects myriads of types of computers and virtually every kind of network device in an ever-changing variety of ways. Its authors are networking experts who write clearly and plainly about complex technologies and products.

Network Testing Labs' experts have written hardware and software product reviews, state-of-the-art analyses, feature articles, in-depth technology workshops, cover stories, buyer's guides and in-depth technology outlooks. Our experts have spoken on a number of topics at Comdex, PC Expo and other venues. In addition, they've created industry standard network benchmark software, database benchmark software and network diagnostic utilities.

FaceTime commissioned the study from Network Testing Labs to bring an outside perspective on both performance and efficacy. This third-party validated test data provides valuable input for FaceTime's customers who are planning deployments and network architecture based on USG. Third-party validation of the malware efficacy offers confidence in the face of fast-changing threats.

About FaceTime Communications

FaceTime Communications enables the safe and productive use of instant messaging, Web usage and Unified Communications platforms. Ranked number one by IDC for four consecutive years, FaceTime's award-winning solutions are used by more than 900 customers -- including nine of the 10 largest U.S. banks -- for security, management and compliance of real-time communications. FaceTime supports or has strategic partnerships with all leading public and enterprise IM network providers, including AOL, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo!, Skype, IBM and Jabber.

FaceTime is headquartered in Belmont, California. For more information visit http://www.facetime.com or call 888-349-FACE. The FaceForward blog, at http://blog.facetime.com, offers thoughts and opinions about the changing nature of Internet communications.

FaceTime, FaceTime Communications, IMAuditor, GEM, Unified Security Gateway, FaceTime Security Labs, IMPact Index, SpywareGuide.com, GreynetsGuide.com and the FaceTime logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of FaceTime Communications, Inc. Other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Contact Information: CONTACT: Emily Chamberlin Edelman for FaceTime 650-429-2734