Cymphonix Top 8

The 8 Essentials of Internet Security

1. Inline, Deep Packet Inspection Device
Only an inline device can see and effectively manage traffic. Add deep-packet inspection, identification and prioritization and you'll be able to control traffic effectively.  Out-of-date approaches including web proxies and firewalls are easily bypassed and don't provide the web-enabled application controls organizations need.

2. Layer 7 Application Control
Effective Internet security must include the ability to control web-enabled application traffic - either prioritizing it because it's critical, limiting it because it's non-critical or eliminating it because it's detrimental. Network Composer includes signatures for all major applications - providing you with the control you need.

3. Dynamic Content Shaping
Out-of-date content filters only allow websites to be turned "on" or "off". Effective Internet security allows administrators to set priorities on traffic dynamically. This way, users can access non-critical websites when bandwidth is available, but when bandwidth is needed by a more critical site or application, the non-critical traffic gets scaled back dynamically.

4. Dynamic, Real-time Anonymous Proxy Detection
Anonymous proxies allow users to easily bypass most Internet security devices. Organizations must implement a solution that dynamically detects and controls anonymous proxies in real-time.

5. Dynamic, Real-time URL Filtering
Out-of-date attempts at controlling Internet content include using just a database of URLs to categorize websites. With millions of websites being created daily, these databases become out-of-date almost immediately. Effective Internet security devices include both a database and dynamic, real-time filtering capabilities. This way websites are categorized on the fly - ensuring users are safe from inappropriate content.

6. Full HTTPS Traffic Inspection
HTTPS connections prevent filters from seeing what's contained inside of the encrypted session. Unfortunately this renders most filters completely useless. Effective Internet security decrypts and re-encrypts HTTPS sessions to ensure policy is applied to all content.

7. Web-based Malware Blocking
Effective Internet security prevents malware downloads - even if malware is served up by trusted sites or contained in HTTPS web traffic.

8. Event and User Correlation
Effective Internet security combines visibility into what users are doing online, with what applications they're using, what threats they're exposed to and how much bandwidth they're consuming. It also tells you how the actions of one user impact the Internet connection as a whole. Without this level of correlation out-of-date approaches cause administrators to misdiagnose issues.