Sendmail Security concerns for Small Businesses

Recent Sendmail Vulnerability Highlights Security concerns for Small Businesses

The recent Sendmail Vulnerability* has highlighted security concerns for small business in NZ, and in particular for those running their own mail server.

In a Statistics NZ report on IT Use in Business in NZ 2001**, 21% of NZ Businesses said that the risk of viruses or hackers accessing confidential information restricted their use of the internet.

While many companies have to weigh up the risk versus cost factor of not being online there are some companies developing products to reduce the risk for the small to medium sized business.

One such company is Quicksilver Internet who recently launched a new product in NZ, a 'virtual' mail server, which alleviates security concerns that businesses may have about running their own mail server.

When a vulnerability such as the recent Sendmail one is announced, small businesses often call in their local technician or IT consultant, at an expensive hourly rate. At worst, the business owner does not even know there's a vulnerability on their own network.

Using Quicksilver's Q-biz virtual mail server means that patches and updates are done automatically at Quicksilver's Network Operations Centre.The Q-biz server is Linux based, running qmail. The server runs from Quicksilver's own facilities, giving the small business owner peace of mind when it comes to concerns about the latest security worries.

The user accesses their mail server through a user friendly web interface, giving them instant and easy control over their business email.

Q-biz also has built in virus protection, backed by F-Prot, and updated frequently with the latest virus information. Email is scanned before it is sent on to the user, and infected emails redirected to the virus vault.

Businesses who have several staff with email addresses, or who operate from several branches, benefit from having the Q-biz virtual mail server by having easy control over their email addresses, without the security concerns or expenses of running a traditional mail server.

Quicksilver Internet are a nationwide provider of premium Internet access and Tolls services to both Residential and Business customers, specialising in quality services at affordable prices. Quicksilver provides a range of products including 56k dial up internet access, Jetstream Starter and Full rate services, Frame Relay, DDS, Ethernet and other broadband connections, National and International Toll services. Quicksilver Internet is a registered trademark of Mercury Telecommunications Limited. Mercury was formed in June 1999 and is owned and operated by a small group of private shareholders from New Zealand and Australia. Mercury's head office is situated in Parnell, Auckland.

© Scoop Media