West Coast Labs Plays Integral Role through Checkmark Certification in Awarding of CCT Accreditation to Microsoft and Aladdin

Independent product testing and certification assures UK governmental and public sector agencies that product functionality and performance claims are accurate and provide the highest degree of information assurance

Cardiff, UK, June 24, 2009 - West Coast Labs, part of the Haymarket Media Group and one of the world's leading independent test facilities for information security products and services, today announced Microsoft and Aladdin® are the latest companies to receive CCT accreditation through West Coast Labs and its Checkmark Certification testing program.

The CESG Claims Tested Mark (CCTM) scheme provides a government quality mark for the public and private sectors based on accredited independent testing, designed to prove the validity of security functionality claims made by vendors. The scheme accepts Checkmark Certification standards as independent validation of a product's malware detection capability and performance capabilities for Anti-Malware, Anti-Spam and URL Filtering technologies.

CESG's Role in Performance and Information Assurance

Based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK, CESG is the UK Government's National Technical Authority for Information Assurance (IA), responsible for enabling secure and trusted knowledge sharing to help customers achieve their business goals and objectives.

Information Assurance is the confidence that information systems will protect the information they handle and function when and as needed, under the control of legitimate users. It ensures the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of all electronically held information. With appropriate security products and procedures, organizations can receive reasonable assurance that electronic information is adequately protected from unauthorized change or dissemination, and ensure the information is always available. The CESG helps owners of electronic information to determine the products and procedures to achieve Information Assurance.

Today government departments turn to CESG as the national technical authority for advice and services to protect voice and data networks. Known as a leading independent technical organization, CESG plays a critical role in keeping the government's IT systems safe by providing assurance policy, services, advice and assistance on the security of communications and electronic data needed by government and other organizations to protect vital information services.

The Latest CCTM Certificate Awards

Microsoft Forefront Client Security received the CCTM certificate at the Infosecurity Europe 2009 event for its malware detection capabilities. The product is also tested within West Coast Labs' Checkmark Certification system for the Anti-Malware, Anti-Spyware Desktop, Anti-Trojan, Anti-virus Desktop, and Anti-Virus Disinfection. These certifications are central to Forefront's CCT accreditation.

Forefront Client Security is part of the Microsoft family of Forefront identity and security solutions. It provides information assurance at government impact levels 1 and 2 for central government and the wider public sector, the NHS, education, local authorities, police, and criminal justice. By delivering simplified administration through central management and providing critical visibility into threats and vulnerabilities, Forefront Client Security helps organizations protect themselves with confidence and efficiency.

"The CCTM certification signifies Microsoft's continued commitment to providing businesses and public sector organizations with comprehensive security and identity solutions that empower people and help meet organizational goals," said John Chirapurath, director in the Identity and Security Business Group at Microsoft.

Also awarded at Infosecurity Europe 2009 was the CCTM certification for the malware detection, spam blocking and URL filtering capabilities within eSafe Version 7.1 from Aladdin, a global leader in information security now affiliated under common management with SafeNet, Inc. for the product's malware detection, spam blocking and URL filtering capabilities. The product was also tested within West Coast Labs' Checkmark Certification system for Anti-Spam, Anti-Spyware Gateway, Anti-Trojan, Anti-Virus Gateway, and URL Filtering.

Founded by pioneers in the anti-malware industry and grounded in ongoing product innovation and patented technologies, eSafe provides strong content security solutions with the capacity, manageability, scalability and reliability to effectively protect against Internet-born threats, reducing risk and increasing productivity. eSafe is a:

• Web security and productivity gateway with anti-malware and unauthorized application filtering
• Messaging security gateway with spam management

"eSafe's combined CCTM and Checkmark Certification underscores its innovation and technological leadership in the security gateway market," said Rami Shalom, managing director of the Content Security Business Unit at Aladdin. "Having been tested as blocking 99.9 percent of spam, eSafe stands as a clear choice for comprehensive, yet simple security. We're pleased to work with West Coast Labs, as it offers a unique avenue to position eSafe as a proven solution with significant, ongoing growth opportunities within the United Kingdom and around the world."

Independent Testing and Checkmark Certification

The Checkmark Certifications is designed to attest to the overall effectiveness and performance of a suite of products providing protection from a wide variety of security threats (malware, spam, URLs, etc.). The fastest growing certification systems for information security products and services, Checkmark is a highly regarded accreditation program that provides end users with confirmation of a product or service's effective functionality and performance.

"Checkmark certification has been central to product claims testing, providing a globally-recognized and accepted level of assurance on product performance," said Chris Thomas, operations director, West Coast Labs. "Receiving both CCTM accreditation and Checkmark Certification, gives IT security product and service providers the necessary performance validation to effectively sell into government and wider public sector agencies with the confidence that their product meets the high standards of performance functionality."

About West Coast Labs

Part of the Haymarket Media Group, West Coast Labs is a global leader in technical research, testing and the Checkmark Certification of information security products and services. With market-leading technology and testing facilities accredited to ISO17025 in the UK, USA and India, West Coast Labs' services and the Checkmark Certification System are being used by the leading global brands to create market advantage and by large business enterprises for obtaining crucial technical insight into product performance.

For more information, please contact Lauren Curley, lcurley@westcoast.com, 781.383.6406.