Barracuda Web Filter Incorporates Skype Security and Control.

Barracuda Web Filter Resolves Challenge in Creating Policies for Skype Usage in the Workplace

SAN FRANCISCO -- Barracuda Networks, Inc., the leading provider of application security appliances, today announced that the Barracuda Web Filter can now restrict Skype usage by user, group or network IP address. The Skype-management feature provides organizations with the tools to: better secure the network perimeter, limit bandwidth usage and eliminate unwanted communications.

"Skype is an excellent tool for organizations of all sizes to communicate globally. Unfortunately, the consequences are security gaps associated with unmonitored and uncontrolled communications," said Stephen Pao, vice president of product management for Barracuda Networks. "To universally block Skype is not the best solution for a workplace. Instead, administrators can determine who should have authorization and during what hours to best suit business needs - which wasn't an easy task for such a complex peer-to-peer application."

Expanded Internet Application Control for Improved Management

The Barracuda Web Filter extends its granular policy controls of Internet application traffic to include comprehensive Skype and SkypeOut management. Building on previous capabilities to manage public IM traffic, network administrators can now assign similar policy actions of Block, Accept, Warn, or Monitor to streamline the network usage of Skype and SkypeOut. An added benefit to the new capability is the logging and visibility of communications outside of the organization, providing companies both a compliance and security solution.

Traditionally, peer-to-peer applications, such as Skype have been troublesome for administrators to control, because the applications do not use a fixed IP address. In the case of the Skype protocol, it can operate across multiple TCP ports with encrypted traffic. By profiling the behavior of Skype clients on the network and inspecting packets, the Barracuda Web Filter can enforce policy to restrict Skype logins and their associated voice communications traffic.

With this new feature, network administrators are now empowered to limit bandwidth usage to appropriate users, groups or network IP addresses that have legitimate business needs and during set hours. For example, if a sales person communicates frequently with counterparts in Europe or Asia, this does not pose an issue. The network administrator could set an Allow policy for the sales person to gain access during international business hours, such as early morning or late evening.

Pao added, "Companies and IT departments have struggled with how to securely integrate Skype into their day-to-day operation. It isn't a simple matter of being strict parents withholding privileges; rather one must examine the value proposition of communicating with an open window primed for information leakage. Barracuda Networks resolved the obstacle that benefits both users and corporate management - to simply and securely administer policy to manage Skype usage in the workplace."

Barracuda Networks will give product demonstrations of the Barracuda Web Filter, along with the company's full lineup of network security appliances including the market-leading Barracuda Spam Firewall, this week at the RSA Conference 2007 Booth #1043.

Pricing and Availability

These new features are immediately available with Barracuda Web Filter version 3.1.5, to all current customers at no additional charge. New customers will receive the latest version out of the box. Pricing varies by model and starts at $1,499 in the U.S. with no per user licensing fees. International pricing varies by region.

About the Barracuda Web Filter

Available in five models, the Barracuda Web Filter combines preventative, reactive and proactive measures to form a complete anti-spyware and content filtering solution for businesses of all sizes. The Barracuda Web Filter is designed to enforce acceptable Internet usage policies by blocking access to objectionable content and unauthorized Internet applications. At the same time, the Barracuda Web Filter's award-winning feature set enables the Barracuda Web Filter to block spyware downloads, prevent viruses, and stop access to spyware Web sites. Unlike the widely available desktop software solutions, the Barracuda Web Filter is easily installed and does not require the additional time, money or resources necessary for downloading and maintaining software on each individual PC. Hourly Energize Updates are made automatically by Barracuda Central so that the Barracuda Web Filter can block the ever-changing virus and spyware variants, as well as maintain the most up-to-date database of the latest productivity-inhibiting Web sites.

About Barracuda Networks, Inc.

Barracuda Networks is the leading provider of enterprise-class application security appliances for comprehensive email, Internet and IM protection. Its products protect over 40,000 customers around the world, including Adaptec, Caltrans, CBS, Georgia Institute of Technology, IBM, NASA, Pizza Hut, Union Pacific Railroad Company, and the U.S. Treasury Department. The Barracuda Spam Firewall and Barracuda Spam Firewall - Outbound protect organizations against spam, viruses, and violations to e-mail security policy. The Barracuda Web Filter offers comprehensive content filtering and complete network protection against spyware, malware and viruses. The Barracuda IM Firewall is the only all in one gateway solution for IM traffic management and security. Barracuda Networks is a privately held company with headquarters in Mountain View, California. Barracuda Networks has offices in eight international locations and distributors in over 43 countries. More information is available at www.barracuda.com.