Blue Coat Content Analysis System

Basic Information

The Broadcom Blue Coat Content Analysis System (CAS) is an enterprise solution designed for advanced threat protection and malware analysis. It functions as a critical component in a layered security architecture, often integrated with Secure Web Gateway (SWG) appliances like the Broadcom (formerly Symantec/Blue Coat) ProxySG.

• Model: Available as dedicated hardware appliances (S200, S400, S500 series) and virtual appliances (CAS-VA, CAS-V100, and C-series models such as C4, C8, C16, C32, C64).
• Version: The system undergoes continuous development with various software versions. Recent versions include Content Analysis 3.1.x and 3.2.x.
• Release Date: An established product with ongoing releases and updates. Specific release dates vary by hardware model and software version.
• Minimum Requirements (Virtual Appliance): Requires a virtualized environment such as VMware ESX Server versions 6.5, 6.7, 7.x, or 8.x. Minimum resource allocation includes 4 CPU Cores, 16GB RAM, 100GB hard disk space, and 3 Virtual Network Interfaces.
• Supported Operating Systems: The Content Analysis System runs a proprietary operating system. Its management console is accessible via standard web browsers. It integrates with other Broadcom security products that support various operating systems.
• Latest Stable Version: Specific latest stable versions are not universally published as a single number for the entire system but are part of continuous updates. Versions 3.1.x and 3.2.x are referenced in current compatibility documentation.
• End of Support Date / End of Life Date: End-of-Life (EOL) and End-of-Support (EoS) dates are specific to individual hardware models and software versions. Customers must consult Broadcom's product lifecycle documentation for precise dates.
• Auto-update Expiration Date: Not explicitly specified; however, updates for antivirus engines, patterns, and file reputation services are subscription-based and require active licenses and internet connectivity.
• License Type: Licensing includes a Base license (standard with all systems), Subscription-based licenses for advanced features (e.g., File Inspection, Malware Analysis, on-box sandboxing, Cloud Sandboxing), and Enterprise licenses for managing multiple instances or virtual appliance cores. All licenses require internet access for validation and updates.
• Deployment Model: Deployed as a physical hardware appliance or a virtual appliance within a virtualized environment (e.g., VMware, AWS). It is typically deployed in conjunction with a Broadcom ProxySG or Edge SWG appliance, acting as an ICAP server for content inspection.

Technical Requirements

The technical requirements for the Broadcom Blue Coat Content Analysis System vary significantly between its hardware and virtual appliance forms, scaling with desired performance and capacity.

• RAM:
  • Virtual Appliances: Ranges from 16GB (for CAS-VA-C4 models) up to 256GB (for CAS-VA-C64 models).
  • Hardware Appliances: Ranges from 6GB (CAS S200-A1) to 128GB (CAS S500-A1).
• Processor:
  • Virtual Appliances: Requires 4 to 64 virtual CPUs, depending on the model (e.g., CAS-VA-C4 to CAS-VA-C64).
  • Hardware Appliances: Specific processor models are not detailed, but performance scales with the appliance series.
• Storage:
  • Virtual Appliances: Typically 100GB to 200GB of hard disk space, configured as virtual drives.
  • Hardware Appliances: Ranges from 500GB (CAS S200-A1) to 6 x 1TB (CAS S500-A1).
• Display: Not applicable; the system is managed via a web-based console.
• Ports:
  • Hardware Appliances: Includes multiple 1000Base-T Copper ports (with or without bypass), a System Management Port, and a BMC Management Port. Higher-end models may offer optional 10GBase-T Copper or 10Gb Fiber (SR) NICs.
  • Virtual Appliances: Requires 3 Virtual Network Interfaces.
• Operating System: The Content Analysis System runs a specialized, proprietary operating system optimized for its function.

Analysis of Technical Requirements

The Content Analysis System offers flexible deployment options, from entry-level hardware to high-performance virtual appliances. Resource requirements are directly proportional to the expected throughput and the number of on-box sandboxing instances. Virtual appliance deployments provide scalability and resource optimization within existing virtual infrastructures, while hardware appliances offer dedicated performance. Proper resource allocation is crucial for optimal performance, especially for virtual deployments, where under-provisioning can lead to sub-optimal operation and over-provisioning can cause license suspension.

Support & Compatibility

The Broadcom Blue Coat Content Analysis System is designed for integration within the broader Broadcom (formerly Symantec/Blue Coat) security ecosystem and supports compatibility with key third-party security solutions.

• Latest Version: Content Analysis 3.1.x and 3.2.x are current versions for integration and compatibility.
• OS Support: The appliance itself uses a proprietary OS. Its web management console supports modern browsers including Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Edge, as well as Internet Explorer 11.
• End of Support Date: Support timelines are specific to each product version and model. Customers should refer to Broadcom's official product lifecycle documentation for detailed End-of-Support (EoS) and End-of-Life (EOL) dates.
• Localization: Documentation and interfaces are primarily in English. Specific localization details are not broadly published.
• Available Drivers: As an appliance with a proprietary operating system, traditional drivers are not applicable. Integration occurs via standard network protocols like ICAP.

Analysis of Overall Support & Compatibility Status

The Content Analysis System demonstrates strong compatibility within the Broadcom security portfolio, integrating seamlessly with products such as Edge SWG (ProxySG), Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager, Symantec Management Center, Symantec Messaging Gateway, Symantec Reporter, and Symantec Security Analytics. It also supports integration with external sandboxing services from vendors like FireEye and Lastline. User feedback on support quality is mixed, with some reporting "fast and strong technical support" while others mention "confusion about maintenance and upkeep" and "non existent support from Symantec/Broadcom" in legacy reviews. The system's reliance on standard protocols like ICAP facilitates its role in diverse security infrastructures.

Security Status

The Broadcom Blue Coat Content Analysis System provides a multi-layered approach to detect and mitigate advanced threats.

• Security Features:
  • Multi-layered Threat Protection: Employs a combination of file reputation, static code analysis, machine learning, multiple anti-malware engines, and dynamic analysis (sandboxing).
  • File Reputation Service: Generates SHA1, MD5, and SHA-256 hashes for files, comparing them against Symantec's cloud-based File Reputation classification service to identify known good or bad files.
  • Anti-Malware Engines: Integrates leading malware engines from vendors like Kaspersky, Sophos, and McAfee, with updates as frequent as every 5 minutes.
  • Sandboxing: Offers both on-box sandboxing for analyzing suspicious files directly on the appliance and integration with external sandboxing services (e.g., Symantec Malware Analysis, Symantec Cloud Sandboxing, Lastline, FireEye).
  • Static Code Analysis & Machine Learning: Determines potential threats within code.
  • Manual File Deny/Allow Lists: Allows administrators to define custom lists of file hashes for immediate blocking or allowing.
  • Deep Inspection: Capable of scanning files up to 5GB in size and analyzing compressed archives up to 99 layers deep.
  • Endpoint Integration: Can query CounterTack Sentinel servers and integrate with Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager (SEPM) to identify affected users and blacklist malicious files.
• Known Vulnerabilities: Broadcom actively addresses vulnerabilities through patches and updates. Past advisories indicate fixes for specific versions (e.g., CAS 2.2.1.1 for a vulnerability in CAS 2.2). Users are advised to upgrade to versions with vulnerability fixes.
• Blacklist Status: Utilizes extensive hash reputation blacklist databases for rapid identification and blocking of known malicious content.
• Certifications: Not explicitly detailed in the provided search results.
• Encryption Support: Supports secure ICAP (ICAPS) for encrypted communication with integrated ProxySG appliances. It also plays a role in the broader SSL/TLS inspection capabilities of the ProxySG.
• Authentication Methods: Management console access requires user authentication. It integrates with other Symantec products for broader security policy enforcement.
• General Recommendations: Requires continuous internet connectivity for license validation, engine updates, and cloud-based threat intelligence. Proper firewall configuration to allow necessary outbound connections is essential. SSL interception should be carefully managed for entitlement communications to prevent failures.

Analysis on the Overall Security Rating

The Broadcom Blue Coat Content Analysis System offers a robust, multi-layered security posture, leveraging a combination of signature-based detection, behavioral analysis, static code analysis, machine learning, and dynamic sandboxing. Its integration with Symantec's vast Global Intelligence Network provides comprehensive threat intelligence. The system's ability to inspect deep within compressed files and handle large file sizes enhances its effectiveness against sophisticated malware. While past vulnerabilities have been identified, Broadcom provides remediation through updates, emphasizing the importance of keeping the system current. Its strong integration capabilities within the Broadcom ecosystem further enhance its overall security effectiveness by enabling coordinated threat response.

Performance & Benchmarks

The performance of the Broadcom Blue Coat Content Analysis System is characterized by its ability to process and analyze web content efficiently, with specifications varying by model and deployment type.

• Benchmark Scores: Specific standardized benchmark scores (e.g., industry-standard throughput tests) are not explicitly provided in the search results.
• Real-World Performance Metrics:
  • Throughput: Hardware appliances offer throughput ranging from 25Mbps (CAS S200-A1) to 1000Mbps (CAS S500-A1). Virtual appliances can achieve throughputs from 100 Mbps to 1600 Mbps, depending on the allocated virtual CPUs and AV engine configuration.
  • Stability: User feedback notes that the system "doesn't break often" and has "little management overhead."
• Power Consumption: Hardware appliance power consumption ranges from AC 350 watts (CAS S200-A1) to AC 1100 watts (CAS S500-A1).
• Carbon Footprint: Specific carbon footprint data is not provided in the available information.
• Comparison with Similar Assets:
  • Integration and Deployment: Reviewers rate the Content Analysis System as "Easier to integrate and deploy" compared to some competitors like Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange and Forcepoint ONE.
  • Scalability and Inspection: Competitors, particularly cloud-native solutions, criticize appliance-based systems for being "inherently capacity-limited," requiring additional appliances for scaling, and potentially struggling with effective inspection of 100% of encrypted web traffic.

Analysis of Overall Performance Status

The Content Analysis System delivers scalable performance tailored to organizational needs, with dedicated hardware models offering predictable throughput and virtual appliances providing flexibility in resource allocation. Its design emphasizes efficient content inspection, supporting various modes of analysis to optimize web gateway performance. While user reviews highlight its stability and ease of management, the appliance-based architecture faces criticism from cloud-native competitors regarding inherent scalability limitations and challenges in inspecting the vast and growing volume of encrypted traffic without performance degradation. This suggests that while effective in its intended deployment, organizations with rapidly expanding or highly distributed workforces might need to carefully consider its scaling model against purely cloud-based alternatives.

User Reviews & Feedback

User reviews and feedback for the Broadcom Blue Coat Content Analysis System highlight several key strengths and weaknesses, along with recommended use cases.

• Strengths:
  • Effectiveness: Praised for being "very light weight and it is straight to the point," effectively "blocking unknown threats and unknown file types."
  • Reliability: Users note that "it doesn't break often and has little management overhead."
  • Performance: Described as "fast and strong" in its technical capabilities.
  • Functionality: When operational, "it does its job as expected."
• Weaknesses:
  • Support & Maintenance: Some users report "much confusion about maintenance and upkeep" and "non existent support from Symantec/Broadcom" (though some also praise support). Issues with "JAVA and the offshored support teams" are also mentioned in legacy feedback.
  • Integration Limitations: Identified as having "limited ICAP supported products out there," often implying a lock-in with ProxySG.
  • Feature Gaps: Suggestions for improvement include developing better "log types and SOAR capabilities."
• Recommended Use Cases:
  • The system is highly recommended for organizations seeking a layered defense against known, unknown, and targeted attacks, particularly when integrated with Broadcom ProxySG appliances.
  • It is suitable for deep inspection of web content, providing protection against viruses, Trojans, worms, spyware, and other malicious content, even when endpoint anti-malware solutions are not fully effective.

Summary

The Broadcom Blue Coat Content Analysis System is a robust enterprise solution for advanced threat protection and malware analysis, available as both dedicated hardware and flexible virtual appliances. Its core strength lies in its multi-layered security approach, which combines file reputation services, static code analysis, machine learning, multiple anti-malware engines (Kaspersky, Sophos, McAfee), and dynamic sandboxing capabilities to detect and neutralize a wide array of threats, including zero-day attacks. The system excels at deep content inspection, capable of analyzing large files and deeply nested archives. It integrates tightly within the Broadcom security ecosystem, particularly with ProxySG/Edge SWG, and supports various third-party sandboxing solutions, making it a central component in a comprehensive security strategy.

From a performance perspective, the system offers scalable throughput, with hardware models providing dedicated capacity and virtual appliances allowing for resource optimization. Users generally praise its stability and low management overhead. However, some feedback points to historical challenges with support and maintenance, and a perceived limitation in its ICAP integration primarily with ProxySG. Competitors also highlight the inherent scalability challenges of appliance-based solutions compared to cloud-native alternatives, especially concerning the inspection of encrypted traffic in modern, distributed environments.

Recommendations: The Broadcom Blue Coat Content Analysis System is an excellent choice for organizations deeply invested in the Broadcom security stack, particularly those utilizing ProxySG for web gateway security. Its comprehensive threat detection capabilities make it suitable for environments requiring stringent content inspection. Prospective users should ensure they have adequate resources for deployment, especially for virtual instances, and maintain active subscriptions for continuous threat intelligence updates. While generally stable, it is crucial to stay current with software versions to benefit from vulnerability fixes and performance enhancements. Organizations with rapidly evolving cloud-centric architectures or those seeking highly agile, infinitely scalable solutions might also explore cloud-native alternatives, but for established on-premises or hybrid deployments, CAS remains a powerful tool.

Information provided is based on publicly available data and may vary depending on specific device configurations. For up-to-date information, please consult official manufacturer resources.