Report Finds Anonymizers and Instant Messaging Top the List of Web Traffic Threats

Enterprise and SMB data shows online threats originate from various applications and therefore traditional Web security should be augmented with application control

Allot Communications Ltd. (NASDAQ, TASE: ALLT), a leading global provider of intelligent broadband solutions that empower communication service providers to optimize and monetize their networks, enterprises to enhance productivity and consumers to improve their digital lifestyle, announced today the availability of its new Allot CloudTrends Report Q2/2015, which highlights the magnitude of web security challenges faced by today’s modern enterprise, and the significance of an effective application-aware Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) in mitigating threats.

The findings of this report indicate that, with the rise of enterprise mobility and increased cloud application adoption, employees are often unwittingly enabling access to sensitive corporate information. The use of social networking, file sharing, instant messaging and anonymizers is opening backdoors for hackers and malicious traffic to enter the organization. Not only does this waste valuable network resources and impact productivity, but it could also threaten an organization’s reputation and viability.

Key findings of the Allot CloudTrends Report Q2/2015 include:

• “Anonymized” Web traffic was blocked three times more often than overall web traffic due to malicious content. Enterprises saw an increased use of anonymizer sites like VPNBook and Tor to hide network activity, which may pose a serious security threat.
• Traffic from instant messaging applications was blocked ten times more often than overall Web traffic due to malicious content.
• 92% of blocked Web traffic was due to AUP enforcement and just 8% was due to its identification as malicious traffic.
• Even when an AUP is in place and well-communicated, the average employee made more than six attempts per day to access blocked social networking sites – half of which were attempts to access Facebook – as well as 1.5 daily attempts to access inappropriate content, such as dating and gaming sites.
• More than 20% of blocked malware files were images whose file extensions would be least suspected by employees (jpg, png, gif, ico), while another 30% of blocked malware are JavaScript files – making this server-side scripting language the most common attack vehicle.

“Today’s security challenges continue to grow and evolve as enterprise mobility and cloud adoption become widespread, disrupting the boundaries of traditional security solutions,” said Yaniv Sulkes, AVP Marketing at Allot Communications. “Our report demonstrates that companies need to adopt policies and technology solutions that are application-aware in order to prevent security breaches coming from non-business applications”.

The full Allot CloudTrends Report Q2/2015, complete with statistical graphics and charts, can be downloaded here.

The statistical information presented in this report is based on data collected from Allot’s Web Security solutions (on-premise and SECaaS) from November 2014 to April 2015 from large enterprises, and from communication service providers offering Security-as-a-Service (SECaaS) to over 200 small and medium-sized business (SMB) customers.

Allot Communications executives will be available at the following upcoming events to discuss the findings of the report and emerging security threats and trends:

• Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit, June 8-11 in National Harbor, MD
• Big Telecom Event, June 9-10 in Chicago, IL

About Allot Communications

Allot Communications Ltd. (NASDAQ, TASE: ALLT) empowers service providers to monetize and optimize their networks, enterprises to enhance productivity and consumers to enjoy an always-on digital lifestyle. Allot’s advanced DPI-based broadband solutions identify and leverage network intelligence to analyze, protect, improve and enrich mobile, fixed and cloud service delivery and user experience. Allot’s unique blend of innovative technology, proven know-how and collaborative approach to industry standards and partnerships enables network operators worldwide to elevate their role in the digital lifestyle ecosystem and to open the door to a wealth of new business opportunities. For more information, please visit www.allot.com.

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This release may contain forward-looking statements, which express the current beliefs and expectations of Company management. Such statements involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause our future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include risks relating to: our ability to compete successfully with other companies offering competing technologies; the loss of one or more significant customers; consolidation of, and strategic alliances by, our competitors, government regulation; lower demand for key value-added services; our ability to keep pace with advances in technology and to add new features and value-added services; managing lengthy sales cycles; operational risks associated with large projects; our dependence on third party channel partners for a material portion of our revenues; and other factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.