The Guildford, UK-based company has created StreamShield Networks Ltd, a subsidiary focused on internet content security such as preventing worms, viruses, malware, spam, phishing and abusive content, and targeted at internet service providers.
StreamShield’s approach is based on a silicon-based content security engine called StreamScan, which is built on Field Programmable Gate Array technology – an emerging technology in which gate arrays are configured to perform specific tasks and reprogrammed as new content threats appear.
According to StreamShield, the use of FPGA technology will enable its products to handle large amounts of traffic in real-time by checking for multiple threats simultaneously. StreamScan has been designed to process over 5,000 emails per second and 250,000 web page requests per second.
The StreamScan technology will be brought to market by StreamShield in two ways: via the StreamShield Content Security Gateway networking products for deployment at internet services providers and network operators; and via StreamShield Protector, a hosted managed service for resale by service providers to business customers.
StreamShield Protector will provide integrated protection for both web and email and will be available from October 2004, while the CSG product is due to enter trials in the first half of 2005. The company will also offer the StreamScan technology to network equipment and security vendors for potential OEM deals.
Detica’s CEO and chairman of StreamShield, Tom Black, said the StreamScan technology has been developed internally within Detica. He said the parent company will be investing 2.5m pounds ($4.5m) into StreamShield for the year up to March 31, 2005, and expects StreamShield to generate modest revenue in the following financial year, ending March 2006, with profitability after that.
