Cisco Announces Spam, Virus Blocker, Other Products for Small Companies

Cisco (News - Alert) has announced new products designed "specifically for small companies," according to the Ciscans, including the Cisco Spam and Virus Blocker, a security appliance described as providing "protection for a business's network and data from viruses and malicious e-mail attacks while mitigating spam.

 

There's also the Cisco NSS2000 and NSS3000 Network Storage Systems, desktop, network-attached storage devices designed to protect data and let employees share information, and the Cisco Smart Business Communications System Release 1.4, a collaboration and communications system to connect offices, employees and customers "from anywhere at any time," according to company officials, "now with a wireless desktop Internet Protocol phone with Bluetooth capabilities."

 

The news is seen by Cisco officials as "building on" the November 2008 announcement of Cisco's $100 million "global strategic initiative to provide dedicated products, services and support for small businesses, including the formation of the Cisco Small Business technology group."

 

The Spam and Virus Blocker is a security appliance that's designed to stop spam, viruses and other e-mail threats. Company officials claim "incredible accuracy, with only one in 1 million false positives," and "no tuning or ongoing administration, as security updates are automatically sent from the monitoring network."

 

The NSS2000 and NSS3000, part of the Cisco Small Business series, are desktop, network-attached storage devices designed to prevent disruptions that come from losing business information, letting users back up every version of every file from every PC and server, and store and archive digital files like video from an IP video surveillance camera.

 

The Cisco Spam and Virus Blocker price ranges from $2,599 to $5,399, with regional variations, depending on the number of users and subscription length. The Cisco Network Storage Systems devices start at $595, with regional variations.

 

In early January TMC reported that Philippines-based Insular Life, a life insurance company, adopted Cisco's Unified Communications (News - Alert) in the cities of Makati and Cebu. Another Cisco site in Alabang, where Insular’s headquarters is located, is slated to be completed this year.

 

TMC (News - Alert) said that the system "allows customers in the Philippines to dial a single toll-free number from anywhere to call and contact Insular Life staff or its agents in any of the three sites."

 

Tisha Cruz, vice president of Insular Life's Information Services Division, said at the time that the company was able to "integrate voice communications in the three offices with one local numbering system, facilitating interoffice communications while improving cost efficiency. A Cebu-based customer, for example, may be passed on to a servicing assistant in Alabang as if it were a local call.”