ProxyClient software is the first integrated client that enables enterprises and organizations to extend security, policy control and application acceleration to remote employees. The combination of functionality in the software enables companies to establish controls over networks they do not own, including the Internet, ensuring performance and protection for the remote user. Since mobile and remote users comprise a significant and growing portion of all employees, a unified platform that extends application performance, security and policy control to users in any location is an emerging IT requirement.

WAN Optimization to Anywhere

The policy-based acceleration in the ProxyClient software enables dramatic performance increases for remote applications. Tests show performance increases of up to 35 times improvement in user wait times, and bandwidth usage. In one evaluation, a 10 megabyte Power Point file took 104 seconds to download without the benefit the ProxyClient software, but only three seconds with the ProxyClient software enabled. The built-in Real Time Performance Indicator graphically displays acceleration results.

The addition of byte caching technology in the ProxyClient software improves performance by up to five times over the existing SG Client software. The new byte caching technology complements already existing application acceleration technologies in SG Client software: protocol optimization for CIFS and TCP, as well as client-side object caching and compression. In addition, location awareness enables the ProxyClient software to automatically apply appropriate WAN optimization, depending on whether the user is inside a branch office and benefiting from acceleration provided by a ProxySG appliance or working remotely.

Web Filtering, Anti-Spyware and Anti-Phishing to Protect and Manage Remotely

While enterprises have put considerable emphasis on protecting and managing Web access for users located at headquarters, once a user leaves corporate headquarters the user’s laptop computer is largely unmanaged. The protection from malware, governance of acceptable usage policies and management of various applications has not been available to apply to employees using corporate computers or resources remotely.

ProxyClient uses Blue Coat WebFilter technology to enable centrally managed URL filtering to protect all company-owned computers — including those operating remotely — from Internet threats and abuse. The organization can enforce acceptable usage policies for users in any location and provide protection from known or likely spyware or phishing sites. ProxyClient makes use of the unique Blue Coat Dynamic Real-Time Rating (DRTR) service to make real-time assessments of URL requests for brand new or previously undiscovered Websites and categorize them as spyware sources, phishing, pornography, gambling or some other potentially dangerous or inappropriate Website.

“Blue Coat sees the WAN optimization client as an integral part of its WAN Application Delivery offering,” said Bethany Mayer, senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, Blue Coat Systems. “Enterprises need to extend not only application performance but also Web security and policy control to employees with company-maintained laptops that are working remotely from the office. ProxyClient is the only solution to protect, manage and accelerate applications to remote employees.”

Price and Availability

Blue Coat ProxyClient software will be available in March 2008 and free of charge to customers with ProxySG appliances. Web security and control functionality requires Blue Coat WebFilter installed with licenses for remote users.

About Blue Coat Systems

Blue Coat secures Web communications and accelerates business applications across the distributed enterprise. Blue Coat’s family of appliances and client-based solutions – deployed in branch offices, Internet gateways, end points, and data centers – provide intelligent points of policy-based control enabling IT organizations to optimize security and accelerate performance between users and applications.