GFI launches GFI MailEssentials for Exchange/SMTP 10
London, UK, 1 July 2004 – GFI has announced the release of GFI MailEssentials for Exchange/SMTP 10. This new version of GFI’s popular server-based anti-spam solution allows network users to blacklist or whitelist senders via public folders, and enables administrators to tune the Bayesian filter more easily. Version 10 also includes mail archiving to SQL Server, permitting companies to comply with government regulations more easily. It also functions as a list server, making it simple for companies to maintain and distribute company news.
“Version 10 beefs up the anti-spam features on offer: We’ve made the Bayesian filter easier to train, empowered users to easily whitelist or blacklist senders and added new spam checks,” said Nick Galea, GFI CEO. “In addition, with version 10, we are taking GFI MailEssentials beyond ‘just’ anti-spam: We have added a powerful archiving feature, better reporting and a new list server feature. More than ever, GFI MailEssentials is a must-have companion to Exchange Server.”
Allows users to whitelist or blacklist via public folders
GFI MailEssentials 10 (see screenshot at http://www.gfi.com/news/press.asp?release=mes10launch&lcode=en) now allows users to whitelist or blacklist senders simply by dragging and dropping the appropriate mail to a public folder. This gives users more control without having to involve the administrator. Administrators, however, can control access to this feature through the use of Public Folder security.
The GFI MailEssentials automatic whitelist management tool automatically adds mail recipients to a user’s whitelist, thus reducing false positives. In version 10, whitelists can also be built based on domain names, email addresses and keywords.
Easy tuning of the Bayesian engine via public folders
Similarly, administrators can easily tune the product’s Bayesian engine by dragging and dropping spam or ham to the appropriate public folder. GFI MailEssentials learns from the spam and ham that it collects from these folders, thereby improving its spam detection rate.
Reports on spam filtering and mail usage
Version 10’s new database-driven reporting engine allows administrators to create advanced reports on how much spam the product filtered and the rules that caught most spam, as well as reports on user, domain and mail server usage.
Mail archiving to an SQL database
GFI MailEssentials can archive all inbound and outbound mail to a Microsoft SQL Server database. Administrators can search for a particular mail, or for an entire email thread, via the included web interface. Mail archiving is essential for backup and search reasons, but also to comply with new regulations such as the Sarbanes-Oxly act, which specify that all email correspondence must be archived.
List server for newsletter lists and discussion lists
GFI MailEssentials 10 includes list server functionality. A list server is the best method for distributing company newsletters since it automates the process to subscribe and unsubscribe (required by anti-spam regulations). So far, list servers have been expensive and difficult to administer, and did not integrate with Exchange Server. The GFI MailEssentials list server changes all this as it is competitively priced and integrates with Exchange. It can use Microsoft Access or Microsoft SQL Server as the backend and supports both newsletter lists and discussion lists.
Other anti-spam features
As part of its multiple-layer approach against spam, GFI MailEssentials intelligently analyzes email headers and identifies spam based on message field information. It detects forged headers, spam mutation, spam sent from invalid domains, and more. It also enables administrators to configure keywords to check for spam using keyword checking.
About GFI MailEssentials for Exchange/SMTP
GFI MailEssentials offers spam protection at server level and eliminates the need to install and update anti-spam software on each desktop. It offers a fast set-up and a high spam detection rate using Bayesian analysis and other methods – no configuration required, very low false positives through its automatic whitelist, and the ability to automatically adapt to the email environment to constantly tune and improve spam detection. Pricing is highly competitive, with a 50-user version costing just US$495, for example. GFI MailEssentials 10 can be purchased in a bundle with GFI MailSecurity, GFI’s email content security product, at pricing starting at US$450 for 10 mailboxes. More information about GFI MailEssentials and a trial version are available at: http://www.gfi.com/mes/.
About GFI
GFI Software Ltd. is a leading provider of network security, content security and messaging software. Key products include the GFI FAXmaker fax server software for Exchange and SMTP servers; GFI MailSecurity email security software for Exchange and SMTP servers; GFI MailEssentials server-based anti-spam software; GFI LANguard Network Security Scanner (N.S.S.) security scanning and patch management software; GFI Network Server Monitor network management software; and GFI LANguard Security Event Log Monitor (S.E.L.M.) that performs network-wide event log management and auditing. Clients include Microsoft, Telstra, Time Warner Cable, Shell Oil Lubricants, NASA, DHL, Caterpillar, BMW, the US IRS, and the USAF. GFI has offices in the US, the UK, Germany, Cyprus, Romania, Australia and Malta, and operates through a worldwide network of distributors. GFI is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and has won the Microsoft Fusion (GEM) Packaged Application Partner of the Year award. For more information about GFI, visit http://www.gfi.com/.