Australian internet and email security and management provider, Netbox Blue has announced the release of a new Anti-Cyber Harassment Engine for business, to protect staff from email harassment and to protect businesses from legal cases.

A growing number of schools across Australia are already using the technology to fight cyber bullying. Now businesses can benefit from the email filtering which comes as an integrated feature of the Netbox unified threat management appliance. The engine is unique because it can not only block inappropriate email sent out of the company , it can also block inappropriate email sent from one staff member to another inside the company. The powerful prevention engine can filter inappropriate language from the body of the email or from most common attachments.

This innovative technology forms another crucial layer in the security and management infrastructure already provided in the Netbox. The suite of features includes a firewall, spam prevention, virus protection, internet and email filtering, email and internet reporting and remote access all in one easy-to-use appliance. The Anti-Cyber Harassment Engine will give business managers the tools they need to ensure staff members aren't using company time and resources to distribute offensive material.  

"Inappropriate use of the internet and email is a very real problem for business," Netbox Blue Chairman John Fison says. "What might seem like a joke to one person can be very offensive to others in the company or reflect very badly on the company when it is sent to customers or other businesses. Our technology gives managers the chance to block offensive email before it can cause problems. Blocked email can be shadow copied to managers so any problem can be swiftly resolved."

This new technology can also help prevent reputational damage to a business when an inappropriate email is forwarded on to a third party with the original sender's contact details and email signature attached. This has been known to create significant damage to a firm's reputation in the market as well as the individual concerned.

A recent survey found that more than a quarter of Fortune 500 companies have battled harassment claims stemming from employees misuse of email and the internet. Other research by Gartner Group indicates that unproductive emails take up 30% of employees' time.

"These are worrying figures. At a time when businesses need to be making the best use of their assets, managers need to be confident that staff aren't wasting time on the internet and email and causing problems for other staff members and the whole company by accidentally or intentionally sending out offensive material. The Netbox now provides that protection and offers peace of mind to managers that their duty of care to staff and customers is covered."