Proofpoint launched a beta version of security software for systems using virtualization technology from VM Ware, the company said Monday.

The product—Proofpoint Messaging Security Gateway for VMware—is aimed at the increasing number of enterprises using VMware to reduce the amount of hardware in their data centers, said Andres Kohn, Proofpoint’s vice president of product management. The final version should be available by the end of the year.

VMware makes virtualization software that allows multiple copies of an operating system to run on a machine’s hardware, using more of its data-processing capability. It allows enterprises to run fewer servers and benefit from lower energy and maintenance costs.

Proofpoint says its product is the first virtual security appliance for e-mail. The software provides antispam and antivirus protection plus data privacy and intellectual property protection features.

"It’s still very early in the virtual appliance space," Kohn said. "We want to give our customers the flexibility."

The product uses the same code base as the software that runs on Proofpoint’s hardware security appliances, said Keith Crosley, director of corporate communications.

Proofpoint’s Messaging Security Gateway for VMware acts like a hardware appliance, but runs on VMware infrastructure. The software can be downloaded to a VMware image running on a machine, Kohn said. It will run on x86 desktops or servers running VMware’s Player, Workstation, Server or ESX Server.

Proofpoint has different pricing based on what functions are included and how many mailboxes an organization is using. Users can run unlimited images on an unlimited number of servers.

Proofpoint gave a sample cost for a one-year license of US$10,000 for 250 users, which would include spam and virus detection, zero-hour virus detection and content compliance functions.

-Jeremy Kirk, IDG News Service (London Bureau)

Check out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage.