Case Study: Maxtor Deploys Blue Coat

Maxtor Drives Web Security to New Level With Blue Coat Proxy Appliances Storage Company Now Able to Accelerate Web Applications While Stopping Web-borne Viruses and Spyware

Like most global companies, digital-storage heavyweight Maxtor Corporation relies on Web applications and communications to keep its distributed workforce connected and productive. Until recently, the Milpitas, Calif., based company used firewalls and intrusion prevention as its primary tools for ensuring network security, but growing concerns over product limitations and emerging vulnerabilities prompted the firm to begin looking for a more sophisticated Web-security solution.

According to Tom Sweeney, Maxtor Corporation's IT director for corporate infrastructure, his company was particularly interested in achieving greater control over Web content, instant messaging, and file sharing. Management felt these steps were necessary to strengthen compliance with workplace policies and safeguard intellectual property at the company's headquarters and 30 satellite offices. At the same time, no one wanted to implement technologies that would slow down network performance or undermine worker productivity.

Survey Reveals Too Many Isolated Solutions

As a preliminary step, Maxtor's IT department surveyed the Web-security industry to better understand the available technologies and how they might address the company's needs. What they found was a marketplace filled with special-purpose applications that could be effective against isolated threats but would lack the broad reach and advanced features a large company might need to safeguard a worldwide infrastructure.