Security vendor Websense has launched a gateway security product designed to allow corporate users to visit social networking and other sites without risking contact with malicious or inappropriate content.

The Websense Web Security Gateway analyses and classifies content in real time to protect against dangerous content, according to Websense technical manager Ross Dyer.

"It will allow you to open up the internet without being exposed to the new types of threats," he said. "If you only filter on reputation, for example, Google may seem fine but many pages listed contain malicious content."

The firm also launched Websense Data Security Endpoint, a new product designed to help businesses stop data leaks through channels such as USB devices and printers.

Graham Titterington, of analyst firm Ovum, argued that, while Websense has done well to bring together email, web security and outbound protection for enterprise customers, the release is not a radical departure from previous products.

"It puts Websense in a stronger position than before, but it's an incremental release," he said. "No vendor comes up with a major new protection out of the blue."