Clearswift moves into managed email services

The email specialist's new service lets IT staff outsource message security

Email security specialist Clearswift has made its first foray into the hosting market with the launch of a managed email service.

The Mimesweeper Email Managed Service bulks up the vendor’s existing email security software and appliance products. It offers firms an opportunity to prevent spam, viruses and other email-bound threats from entering or leaving the organisation, without the need for software or hardware deployments, said Clearswift.

Emails are subjected to various checks, including virus filters and image filters, before being processed, while messages are also archived to support compliance requirements, according to the vendor.

The service also offers various management tools, such as traffic monitoring, event logging and graphical reporting, which firms can use to gain visibility and understanding over their email use.

Clearswift senior vice-president Ian Bowles said that the service could reduce the pressure on over-worked IT departments by letting them hand over responsibility for their messaging security.

Clearswift will find itself competing with more established providers in the managed email services market, such as MessageLabs and BlackSpider.