Mail Warden is an email filtering application that can be used with most SMTP-based mail systems, including Microsoft's Exchange Server and Lotus Domino.

Two versions of Mail Warden are supplied on the CDRom. The first is for use with SLMail, BVRP Software's mail server. The second version works with Exchange Server, Domino or any other SMTP mail server software including Windows and Linux products.

With a non-Windows mail server, the software is installed on a separate Windows system. For Exchange and other Windows products, it can reside on the same host.

Installation is straightforward. All you're really asked for are the IP address to use and a DNS server, plus the email address of the administrator. The antivirus software is Norman Virus Control from Norwegian Norman ASA and is installed separately on the same system.

Management is done via a Control Panel applet, but the interface is simple and easy to navigate and, once you've set up the basic parameters, little day-to-day administration is required.

Among the options on offer are facilities to further customise the links to the mail server, while from the main tab on the Mail Warden console, you can start and stop the service, configure the activity logs and opt to use MAPS, a chargeable internet service that maintains a list of domains known to be responsible for spam.

Most companies will filter their own mail, though, so Mail Warden intercepts all incoming and outgoing messages. Checks can then be made to look for messages from specific domains, mail and IP addresses, as well as checking content and attachments.

Rules can be defined to look for specific types of attachment, certain words and so on. A range of actions can then be taken, such as blocking or quarantining messages.

Standard disclaimers and other text can also be inserted. Virus checking is done at the same time as content filtering, but rules controlling this option are configured using a separate utility.

Mail Warden lacks the facility to interpret context when scanning for content offered by other products, but it works well and is cheaper than most of the competition.

Price: £899 (50 users, ex. VAT)

Minimum requirements: 233MHz Pentium; 128Mb of Ram.

Software platforms: Windows NT 4.0 with SP6, Windows 2000.

Email server compatibility: Exchange Server 5.5 (with SP3) or later; Lotus Domino or any SMTP-compatible mail server.

Contact: BVRP UK 01752 302 700
www.bvrp.co.uk