DeviceLock adds network and content filtering

DeviceLock has released version 7.0 of its data leak prevention tool, adding new capabilities that enable security administrators to lock down network communications and apply content filtering rules to files being sent by users.

Available immediately, DeviceLock 7.0 Endpoint DLP Suite consists of a core module providing control over USB ports and external storage across the corporate network, plus the optional NetworkLock and ContentLock modules which are licensed separately.

DeviceLock 7.0 was first trialled almost a year ago, but the development process has taken longer than expected, the company said.

The new capabilities have been added to DeviceLock because companies now face potential data leak threats beyond the risk of employees copying sensitive files to USB memory sticks.

Webmail accounts, instant messaging and social networks all make it relatively easy for people to move data outside the corporate firewall, according to DeviceLock.

NetworkLock enables administrators to "selectively control end user communications over the network, not just SMTP-based email but HTTP and SSL-encrypted web access", according to DeviceLock's business development manager for EMEA, Alexei Lesnykh.

The tool does this by deep packet inspection of network traffic, so it can block popular instant messaging services and social networks like Twitter, LinkedIn and MySpace, plus webmail such as Gmail and Windows Live Hotmail if required.

Lesnykh said that this proved the most appreciated feature during beta tests because it is so simple to manage.