Security threats Toolkit

Anti-spam enters the Zone

Ben Charny CNET News

Published: 21 Oct 2003 15:45 BST

Computer-security maker Zone Labs will bundle anti-spam software from Cloudmark with its products, both companies are expected to announce.

The coupling is the first example of a network security provider meshing anti-spam software into its product mix, according to Karl Jacob, Cloudmark's chief executive. It's a move to "modularisation" that will soon take hold of most of the security industry, said Brian Burke, security products research manager for IDC.

"Enterprise and consumer customers will increasingly look for security products that integrate various security features such as firewall, antivirus and anti-spam, with centralised management," Burke said in a statement.

The two companies will announce on Tuesday that Zone Labs will bundle Cloudmark's SpamNet with its online sales of ZoneAlarm Pro and ZoneAlarm Plus firewall products, according to Jacob. Existing Zone Labs customers will be offered a discount on the spam-fighting software, he added.

Burke said Cloudmark has about 650,000 registered users of its SpamNet product, including about 1,000 small businesses. About 22 million people use Zone Labs products to protect their networks, according to the company.

"Zone Labs came to us saying they had a huge demand from customers saying, 'please help,'" Jacobs added. "Zone Labs has 22 million users. That request can get pretty loud."