Check Point Integrity is an endpoint

Endpoint

An endpoint or end point is a mark of termination or completion.* In geometry, an endpoint is a point at which a line segment or ray terminates* Endpoint , the conclusion of a chemical reaction, particularly for titration...

 security software product developed by Check Point Software Technologies. It is designed to protect personal computer

Personal computer

A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...

s and the networks they connect to from computer worm

Computer worm

A computer worm is a self-replicating malware computer program, which uses a computer network to send copies of itself to other nodes and it may do so without any user intervention. This is due to security shortcomings on the target computer. Unlike a computer virus, it does not need to attach...

s, Trojan horses

Trojan horse (computing)

A Trojan horse, or Trojan, is software that appears to perform a desirable function for the user prior to run or install, but steals information or harms the system. The term is derived from the Trojan Horse story in Greek mythology.-Malware:A destructive program that masquerades as a benign...

, spyware

Spyware

Spyware is a type of malware that can be installed on computers, and which collects small pieces of information about users without their knowledge. The presence of spyware is typically hidden from the user, and can be difficult to detect. Typically, spyware is secretly installed on the user's...

, and intrusion attempts by hackers

Hacker (computer security)

In computer security and everyday language, a hacker is someone who breaks into computers and computer networks. Hackers may be motivated by a multitude of reasons, including profit, protest, or because of the challenge...

. The software aims to stop new PC threats and attacks before signature

Digital signature

A digital signature or digital signature scheme is a mathematical scheme for demonstrating the authenticity of a digital message or document. A valid digital signature gives a recipient reason to believe that the message was created by a known sender, and that it was not altered in transit...

 updates have been installed on the PC. The software includes

• network access control
  Access control
  Access control refers to exerting control over who can interact with a resource. Often but not always, this involves an authority, who does the controlling. The resource can be a given building, group of buildings, or computer-based information system...
  
  s that detect and remedy security policy violations before a PC is allowed to connect to a network;
• application
  Application software
  Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with...
  
   controls that block or terminate malicious software programs before they can transmit information to an unauthorized party;
• a personal firewall;
• an intrusion prevention system (IPS) Check Point Intrusion Prevention System – IPS;
• spyware detection and removal;
• and instant messaging
  Instant messaging
  Instant Messaging is a form of real-time direct text-based chatting communication in push mode between two or more people using personal computers or other devices, along with shared clients. The user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the Internet...
  
   security tools.

An administrator manages the security policies that apply to groups of users

User (computing)

A user is an agent, either a human agent or software agent, who uses a computer or network service. A user often has a user account and is identified by a username , screen name , nickname , or handle, which is derived from the identical Citizen's Band radio term.Users are...

 from a central console and server

Server (computing)

In the context of client-server architecture, a server is a computer program running to serve the requests of other programs, the "clients". Thus, the "server" performs some computational task on behalf of "clients"...

.

Check Point acquired the Integrity software as part of its acquisition

Mergers and acquisitions

Mergers and acquisitions refers to the aspect of corporate strategy, corporate finance and management dealing with the buying, selling, dividing and combining of different companies and similar entities that can help an enterprise grow rapidly in its sector or location of origin, or a new field or...

 of endpoint security start-up Zone Labs in 2004. The Integrity software, released in early 2002, was derived from the ZoneAlarm security technology and added central policy management and network access control functions. Integrity was integrated with network gateways

Gateway (telecommunications)

In telecommunications, the term gateway has the following meaning:*In a communications network, a network node equipped for interfacing with another network that uses different protocols....

 (the Cisco

Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Jose, California, United States, that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking, voice, and communications technology and services. Cisco has more than 70,000 employees and annual revenue of US$...

 VPN 3000 series) to ensure that a PC met security requirements before it was granted access to the network.

Demand

Demand

- Economics :*Demand , the desire to own something and the ability to pay for it*Demand curve, a graphic representation of a demand schedule*Demand deposit, the money in checking accounts...

 for endpoint security grew in 2003 after the SQL Slammer and Blaster

Blaster (computer worm)

The Blaster Worm was a computer worm that spread on computers running the Microsoft operating systems: Windows XP and Windows 2000, during August 2003....

 computer worms reportedly caused extensive damage, despite widespread use of antivirus software on personal computers. A number of destructive worms that followed, and the subsequent rise of spyware as a significant problem, continued to increase demand for endpoint security products. Data privacy

Data privacy

Information privacy, or data privacy is the relationship between collection and dissemination of data, technology, the public expectation of privacy, and the legal and political issues surrounding them....

 and integrity

Data integrity

Data Integrity in its broadest meaning refers to the trustworthiness of system resources over their entire life cycle. In more analytic terms, it is "the representational faithfulness of information to the true state of the object that the information represents, where representational faithfulness...

 regulation

Regulation

Regulation is administrative legislation that constitutes or constrains rights and allocates responsibilities. It can be distinguished from primary legislation on the one hand and judge-made law on the other...

s and required security audits mandated by governmental and professional authorities, along with infections and damage caused by guest PC access, have also prompted use of such security software.

Competitors include Symantec/Sygate, Cisco Security Agent, McAfee Entercept, and even point products like Determina's Memory Firewall.

External links

• Check Point Software Technologies website page on Check Point Integrity (aka Check Point Endpoint Security)
• InfoWorld review of Check Point Integrity
• Techweb story on Check Point Integrity