NSS Labs Mission Revisited

NSS Labs' mission is to help raise the bar of information security capabilities and practices, for enterprises and vendors alike.

For enterprises, that means helping them choose and implement better defenses. We do this by performing rigorous testing of leading products in various configurations and publishing test reports for purchase as an information service, much like other analyst firms, like Gartner, IDC, Forrester, etc. (However, we are the only ones that actually perform hands on, comprehensive testing of security products). There are several types of reports, individual certifications (full 360 reviews), comparative group tests, Security Update Monitoring, and our new Exposure Reports. The products in this information service help subscribers understand what is protected and what is not. Nothing protects 100%, so knowing the specifics is important.

For security product vendors, this means testing them against standardized evaluation criteria to establish a baseline, and drawing attention to key issues and requirements. We then test according to best practices methodologies. Our reports also reward those vendors that perform well, and they can use those for marketing. When it comes to improving products, vendors have great resources, and some of the smartest teams around. In addition, they often turn to outside experts for help. NSS is well equipped to assist with this type of private testing and consulting. However, we are always careful to maintain integrity during the process.