Fortinet Introduces New OS for Messaging Security Appliances

Fortinet introduced a next-generation operating system this week for its family of FortiMail secure messaging appliances as part of a larger rollout of its messaging security products.

In addition to the new OS, Fortinet also introduced two new messaging security platforms: FortiMail 200D – which is aimed at small to midsized businesses – and FortiMail 3000D, which is designed for carriers, service providers and large enterprises.

Designed primarily for managed security service providers (MSSPs), Internet service providers (ISPs) and enterprises, FortiMail 5.0 OS also includes groupware functionality like as calendaring and address book capabilities that enable FortiMail appliances to be deployed as secure, fully-functional mail servers, the company explained. The new OS also enables FortiMail appliances to operate in either a transparent and/or gateway mode, according to the company.

Fortinet has also upgraded the Web filtering protection by integrating the FortiGuard URL Database Categories with the OS, enabling granular policies to be used to filter Web access based on 79 Web content categories and more than 100 million ranked Websites. The database is updated continuously.

“Email continues to be an easy entry point for hackers and cybercriminals who cleverly target individuals within an organization,” said Chris Rodriguez, an analyst at Frost & Sullivan, in a statement. “As MSSPs and service providers continue to take on the role of email protection, they need tools and resources, like those offered by Fortinet, that best arm and complement their service offerings.”