MessageLabs Recognized as Worldwide Hosted Messaging Security Services Market Leader by Leading Analyst

MessageLabs, a leading provider of integrated messaging and web security services to businesses worldwide, today announced that IDC has recognized the company as the worldwide leader in the hosted messaging security market, according to its 2007 Worldwide Messaging Security Report.(1)

The report identified MessageLabs as a clear market leader in the messaging security hosted services market with 31.7 percent market share, compared to the nearest competitor at 20.1 percent, with revenues fast approaching Symantec, Trend Micro and McAfee. MessageLabs is ranked fourth overall across the worldwide messaging security market out of a total of 40 of the main software, appliance and hosted security services vendors listed. Within the fastest growing hosted services sector, MessageLabs revenue nearly matched that of all the other vendors combined.(2)

"The results of this latest IDC research report reflect MessageLabs' commitment to security-as-a-service and dedication to a vision of providing clients with an unparalleled level of protection against increasingly complex and sophisticated threats such as viruses, spam, phishing attacks and spyware," said Jos White, President and co-founder, MesageLabs. "In an industry that is rife with mergers and acquisitions MessageLabs remains a true security-as-a-service specialist with an ever expanding range of services for email, web and IM. Through an expanded product portfolio, geographical reach and additions to our executive team, MessageLabs has achieved significant growth and innovation."

IDC estimates that the messaging security market will more than double from $2 billion in 2006 to $4.8 billion in 2011. Among the components of the market -- software, appliance and hosted services -- IDC predicts hosted services will be the fastest growing, underlining the benefits and mainstream acceptance of security-as-a-service.(3)

"Managed services continue to gain popularity among businesses large and small," said Brian Burke, analyst, IDC. "IDC expects this growth to continue in the coming years and for hosted services, like MessageLabs, to continue to gain market share from software and appliance vendors."

Following a year of continued investment and growth MessageLabs recently reported preliminary unaudited financial results for the year ending July 31, 2007 with revenues of $117.7 million (£60.4 million), representing a 22 percent increase in revenue over the previous year.

About MessageLabs

MessageLabs is a leading provider of integrated messaging and web security services, with over 16,000 clients ranging from small business to the Fortune 500 located in more than 86 countries. MessageLabs provides a range of managed security services to protect, control, encrypt and archive communications across Email, Web and Instant Messaging.

These services are delivered by MessageLabs globally distributed infrastructure and supported 24/7 by security experts. This provides a convenient and cost-effective solution for managing and reducing risk and providing certainty in the exchange of business information. For more information, please visit www.messagelabs.com

(1) IDC, Worldwide Messaging Security 2007-2011 Forecast and 2006 Vendor Shares: DLP, Encryption, and Hosted Services Heating Up, Doc # 209602, December 2007.

(2) Ibid.

(3) Ibid.

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