5 September 2008 - Arkoon reinforces corporate information protection with the Security BOX version 7.0

The new version 7.0 of the Arkoon Security BOX has integrated Microsoft Vista compatibility and reinforced administration tool ergonomics .

Continuous access to information is a standard requirement for business users.  In this context, the Security BOX Enterprise ensures the authenticity, confidentiality and integrity of information in order to protect the company's intellectual property.
The software suite has been designed to be as transparent as possible, both as regards the encryption of emails and disks or the encryption of local, remote or shared files.  In fact, Security BOX makes information secure in any form, whether stored, exchanged or shared and can be integrated into any type of terminal (laptop/desktop computers, shared file servers, USB keys, etc.).

Note the following in particular among the new features included:

 

• The administrator's graphic interface and administration tool have been revised and improved.
• Version 7.0 makes Security BOX technology compatible with the main environments deployed in companies: Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows XP.
• The latest Microsoft and IBM email clients (Outlook 2007 and Lotus Notes 8.0) can be used with the version 7.0 Mail edition.

To reinforce security, the administration tool ensures clear separation between security administration and system rights.  The tool allows easy deployment of the solution and ergonomic management of users, which enables the cost of deployment and operation of the solution to be reduced.

Secure data previously processed with older versions of the software can be accessed with the new version without the need for specific processing.

23 July 2008 - Good sales for Arkoon in a difficult environment

In a difficult economic context, ARKOON Network Security shows a good sales record and made €5,537 K in turnover in the first half of 2008 as opposed to €5,738 on 30th June 2007.
Including outsourced turnover made through distribution agreements concluded in 2007, revenues remained stable at €5,767 K on 30th June 2008.


Good performance of Network Security activity
Network security sales (UTM appliances and security services), the Group’s core business, amounted to €4,016 K (vs. €4,013 K on 30th June 2007), stable despite an increase in volume sales of UTM appliances.
Over that period, the network security activity represented 72.5% of total turnover.

Data security sales (Security BOX) amounted to €1,521 K (vs. €1,725 K on 30th June 2007). This activity was particularly penalised by delayed orders over that period.


Recurrent strong turnover increase: + 10%
Deferred revenues, produced by invoicing of maintenance contracts and subscriptions, increased strongly (+€418 K) from €4,218 K on 31/12/2007 to €4,636 K on 30/06/2008. This reflects the growing share of recurrent revenue and an excellent contract renewal rate, a field in which the company has invested by industrialising its processes.


Promising start for the Italian subsidiary
Following investments made in the second half of 2007 for the opening of a sales structure in Italy, international turnover increased by + 77% to reach €527 K. On 30th June 2008, sales outside France represented 10% of turnover as opposed to 5% in 2007.
Backed up by the promising launch of the Italian subsidiary, Arkoon Network Security has opened an operation in Barcelona, Spain.


Trends expected in the second half
Traditionally, ARKOON Network Security enjoyed much higher business volume in the second half. In a market that remains highly competitive, the company will focus on maintaining margins and should benefit from new leverage with:

• The launch of the new Security BOX Mobile version (smartphone and communicating PDA security software) which should stimulate sales of this product line;
• The first OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) invoicing. This policy consists in licensing ARKOON technology on other hardware platforms;
• Enhanced sales efficacy following finalisation of the reorganisation of sales and marketing structures between September 2007 and March 2008.

20 May 2008 - Push mail function made secure by Arkoon

With the launch of its new version of Security BOX Mobile, Arkoon Network Security is offering mobile users the ability to receive their email instantly and to store it on a mobile terminal, such as a PDA or Smartphone, in total security.

Continuous access to information, and particularly electronic mail, has become a must in the modern world, which leads to specific risks. Although theft and loss constitute undeniable information leaks, the most aggressive attacks involve the interception or alteration of data either while they are being transported between the mobile terminal and the message server, or when email is stored on a mobile terminal and the corporate information system is accessed.

The Security BOX Mobile solution provides a response to each of these risks:

• Email encryption using a robust algorithm (encryption protecting the body of the message as well as any attachments) ensures the confidentiality of the email when stored on the terminal;
• A VPN (Virtual Private Network) to protect communications between the mobile terminal and the information system (authentication by digital certificate and SSL encryption) ensures total security of the information in transit, regardless of the path and connection used.

Arkoon’s Security BOX Mobile ensures the confidentiality of information while offering easy access to its various functions. The authentication system is optimal and entirely based on the SIM card, with its short code guaranteeing access reserved for the terminal, backed up by an unalterable failed-attempt counter.

As a complement to email, the push mail function synchronizes tasks, the agenda, and the address book. The confidentiality of these items or any other file is ensured with Security BOX Mobile by encryption of the PIM database and files, thus transforming the mobile terminal into a genuine digital safe.

20 February 2008 - Arkoon Network Security takes its first steps in Spain

Arkoon is positioning itself on the Spanish market  through its presence at

SITI/asLAN trade show in Madrid
February 26, 27, and 28, 2008 
Feria de Madrid, InViTech area
For three days, the 14,000 network technology and convergence professionals who typically come to the show will be able to discover Arkoon’s complete offering. In particular, the trade show will focus ample attention on issues related to Voice/Data convergence, a new challenge for companies, particularly in terms of security. This will be an excellent opportunity for Arkoon to demonstrate the benefits of its flagship product, the first UTM Voice/Data appliances on the market: the Arkoon FAST360 line.

Arkoon will be able to take advantage of InViTech’s services at the show. Indeed, the company is offering local solutions adapted to meet the needs of multinationals not directly present in Spain specializing in emerging technologies. This year, InViTech is developing a new international area at SITI that will enable Arkoon to illustrate at its own stand the technological solutions and development strategy intended for the Spanish market.

21 November 2007 - ARKOON acknowledged for its capacity to combine innovation and growth

At the Technology Fast 50 Rhône-Alpes 2007 awards ceremony organised by DELOITTE, ARKOON was awarded the “Prix Spécial OSEO” for innovation and growth, two of the company’s leading areas of development.
OSEO (previously ANVAR), a major supporter of innovation, helps entrepreneurs with their creation, innovation and development projects. By awarding its special prize to ARKOON Network Security at the Technology Fast 50 awards, OSEO highlights the innovation efforts made for the showcase products FAST360®, SSL360® and Security BOX®, while acknowledging the growth and development of the company’s activity as a whole.

A panel of about one hundred regional companies who had received OSEO support were initially selected and a short-list of the thirty companies with the best performance was drawn up. ARKOON was nominated among the short-listed companies.

6 November 2007 - Arkoon launches Security BOX® SmartCONNECT

Security BOX® SmartCONNECT software expands the Security BOX® SMART line and provides a comprehensive connection security solution for mobile users.
The new SmartCONNECT module rounds off the Security BOX® Smart offering by providing a protection technology for sensitive data to mobile users who need to remain in contact with their companies. Depending on various mobility situations, the user can connect to his/her company’s network and remotely manipulate safely any data.

Security BOX® SmartCONNECT is a security solution that makes it possible to create a secure connection between the mobile employee and the company using IPSec VPN gateways.
Three primary functionalities have been integrated in order to provide users with a complete solution in terms of data security:

• VPN Client:
  Security BOX® SmartCONNECT is an IPSec VPN client that provides a high functional level while meeting the most stringent security requirements. Thus a remote worker can use the company’s resources and applications as if he/she were on the private network.
• Personal Firewall:
  The built-in stateful firewall integrated into Security BOX® SmartCONNECT allows for increased protection of remote workstations when connected.
• Dialer:
  Security BOX® SmartCONNECT has the ability to replace the telephone operator’s connection software. The user can connect in a single click, regardless of the network medium being used, whether on the company premises through a LAN connection, or in a train with a GPRS connection, or at an airport through a Wi-Fi connection.

Security BOX® SmartCONNECT runs under Windows Vista, XP and 2000. 
Used as a generic brand product, the SmartCONNECT technology is the result of a partnership with German publisher NCP. This French-German collaboration strengthens Arkoon’s goal of positioning itself as a European alternative in the market of information system security.

30 October 2007 - ARKOON Joins Microsoft’s SecureIT Alliance Programme

With currently over 100 member companies, the SecureIT Alliance provides a forum through which members receive early platform developer information from Microsoft and collaborate on issues such as secure-code best practices, interoperability, and integration of products and services, then publishing security-solutions content.  In addition to ensuring compatibility between ARKOON’s existing product range and Microsoft’s platform, membership will also facilitate the development of new products and services in collaboration with Microsoft and its partner community.

Close collaboration with Microsoft has already borne fruit in the shape of ARKOON’s Security BOX® TEAM offering which is now fully compatible with Microsoft’s Distributed File System™ (DFS).  Security BOX TEAM allows a group of users to share encrypted files in a collaborative way within enterprise while guaranteeing a high level of confidentiality.  Files stored on the server can be simultaneously read or updated by several members of a group.  The Distributed File System (DFS) technologies in Windows Server 2003 R2 offer wide area network friendly replication as well as simplified, fault-tolerant access to geographically dispersed files. The DFS services allow organisations to centrally manage related files intuitively as a single group while – in reality – actually storing them separately across multiple servers in different locations to ensure high availability and redundancy.
 
This combination ensures that end users retain their working habits and personal profiles, and continue to work intuitively and flexibly without compromising levels of security at any point within the Microsoft environment.