Fortra has recently released a new version of their range of Clearswift gateway products, and with it comes a statement regarding the end of life (EOL) dates of older versions.
If you aren’t familiar with the Fortra Clearswift products, they can be simply described as software appliances which enhance the security of your email, exchange, and web services hosted on your networks. Clearswift also offer an ICAP gateway, designed to scan files entering and exiting your network for viruses and other malware. Notably we are discussing:
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Clearswift Secure Email Gateway (SEG)
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Clearswift Secure ICAP Gateway (SIG)
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Clearswift Secure Web Gateway (SWG)
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Clearswift Secure Exchange Gateway (SXG)
Gateway 6.1 has been released, and with it comes several improvements to the functionality of the products above. Release notes are available for each product, however, here are some key points worth sharing.
Secure Email Gateway (release notes)
Additional locations have also been added to the Geoblocking functionality of the Secure Email Gateway, enabling companies using SEG to define locations to block at a more granular level. WebP image support has also been added as a detectable file type, further expanding the functionality of the detection engine.
Secure Exchange Gateway (release notes)
Arguably the most notable enhancement made to SEG is the update from RedHat 7.9 to 9.4 as the platform. This comes as a huge relief for security teams who are looking for the long-term support that this brings. Java has also been updated to version 21, and with that comes improvements in performance. WebP support has also been added to the SXG, as you would have assumed with the addition of WebP support within SEG.
Secure Web Gateway (release notes)
Perhaps most requested is the increase in supported mac data sizes for the Secure Web Gateway. The maximum data size for the following locations have been increased from 16 GB to 1 TB:
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Download/Upload Size Restriction under the Global Web Policy
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Download Size Restriction clause in the Download size restriction content rule
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Data Transfer Restriction clause in the Size bypass content rule
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Size Restriction clause in the Analyze Properties, Detect Lexical Expression, Detect Media Types and Redact Text content rules
This is fantastic news for those companies working with large files who want to make use of the SWG for all web traffic entering and leaving the network.
You may see a pattern emerging here, but support for WebP images has now been added to the Secure Web Gateway. Those looking for additional options for categorisation of web domains will also be glad to hear that the addition of NetSTAR’s dss-ib.netstar-inc.com site will be added on July 15th as a host.
Secure ICAP Gateway (release notes)
For the Secure ICAP Gateway, the enhancements made are identical to the SWG, and notable fixes include improvements to the reliability of Sophos AV definition updates, and a fix for some images becoming distorted when run through the Sanitise Document Content rule.
EOL Statement
For those companies running version 5.x of the gateway products, previously Fortra provided an End of Life date of the 30th June 2025. This has now been extended to the 31st of December 2025, facilitating smoother migrations to the latest versions. Fortra will continue providing technical support for these products, and RedHat will continue to receive updates, however no updates to v5.x versions of the products will be developed.
Versions 5.4 and older of Clearswift Gateway products are already End of Life.
Fortra have provided information on what will happen after December 31st 2025:
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We will no longer be able to provide technical support or updates for version 5.x.
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We will no longer be able to provide further Red Hat Extended Lifecycle Support for version 5.x based on RHEL7 beyond this date.
Next Steps: Preparing for Your Clearswift Gateway Upgrade
Upgrading to later versions of Fortra Clearswift products may seem straightforward, but in reality, it often involves navigating complex system dependencies, ensuring compatibility with your existing infrastructure, and minimising downtime during migration. Many organisations hesitate to upgrade due to concerns around resource allocation, technical risks, and disruption to daily operations.
At Pro2col, we specialise in managing these complexities for you. Our experienced team of technical consultants can ensure a seamless, secure transition to the latest Clearswift gateway products, saving you time, reducing risk, and allowing your IT team to focus on core business operations. Get in touch with us today for a tailored upgrade plan.
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