GFI Software is to enter the Web-filtering market following the signing of an alliance with St Bernard Software, Inc. This will enable GFI to offer cost-effective Web-filtering solutions to the SMB market in the next release of GFI WebMonitor for ISA Server later this year.

Through the agreement, St Bernard will provide GFI with its proprietary database, iGuard, a 100 per cent human-reviewed Web-filtering database that helps companies to accurately block employees from accessing inappropriate sites.

GFI will be using St Bernard's Web-filtering database to develop a best-of-breed solution that not only allows companies to control what users are browsing and downloading, but also to increase security, improve risk management, enforce user policies and boost employee productivity.

"When you add GFI's strength in providing cost-effective solutions to the SMB space together with St Bernard's excellent Web-filtering technology, the synergies between both companies are clear," Curtis H. Staker, chairman and CEO at GFI said.

"Through this alliance, GFI will be providing a best-of-breed security solution that further addresses our customer requirements and complements our already comprehensive and robust solutions in the SMB market. On behalf of our customers and channel partners, we look forward to leveraging both companies' core competencies for a successful alliance."

"GFI is known for its focus on the SMB audience and providing its customers with innovative products and strong technical support," Vince Rossi, president and CEO at St Bernard said. "Our partnership with GFI allows us to bring our intellectual property to a global distribution network with a leading provider in the marketplace.

"This enables us to leverage a new revenue stream for St Bernard, while further demonstrating our continued commitment to serving the small and midsize community."