"The field included nearly 200 entries and the selection process was rigorous. We chose finalists based on the product's strategic importance to the market, the competitive advantages and the value to the customer," said Karen Forster, editor in chief of Windows 2000 Magazine.

Mail essentials is an email content checking and anti-virus solution for Exchange 2000/5.5 that can protect Exchange server from all kinds of email-borne threats, such as viruses, dangerous attachments, email attacks, spam and offensive content. It was the first available content checking and anti-virus gateway to offer native integration with Microsoft Exchange 2000.

Included in Mail essentials 2000 is the unique capability of automatically removing Word macros and HTML mail scripts. This protects users from current and future email viruses, as well as from email attacks, that is, one-off viruses designed to break into a network. Mail essentials can also block emails and attachments containing VB script (such as the LoveLetter virus), Windows Scripting, and Java scripts at email server level.

Apart from scanning for email threats, Mail essentials also offers key email features such as the addition of a disclaimer to each outgoing email, email use reports, archiving of all email, server-based PGP encryption, an anti-spam module, POP3 downloader, and server-based auto replies. For more information, please visit http://www.gfi.com/me/index.html. The full version of Mail essentials is available from $350.

The Windows 2000 Magazine Network - a print, online, email newsletter and event media network - reaches more than 1.5 million IT professionals every month.

About Penton Media
Penton Media is a leading diversified business media company that produces market-focused magazines, trade shows and conferences, and web sites. Penton's integrated media portfolio serves the following market sectors: information technology; Internet/broadband; electronics; natural products; food/retail; manufacturing; design/engineering; supply chain; aviation; government/compliance; mechanical systems/construction; and leisure/hospitality. Penton generated revenues of $404.6 million in 2000.