Spam currently comprises 80% of all email traffic, up from 60% earlier this year. As spam continues this alarming growth it threatens to take down messaging systems around the world. IT organizations are spending millions to stay ahead of the growth and keep their mission critical messaging systems running. Networks are being compromised and resources are being overwhelmed. Filtering technologies do not reduce the strain on already over-extended networks and servers.

Solutions are needed that stop the flow of spam before it enters the network and besieges the messaging system. MAPS' solutions block spam at the IP layer, before it enters an enterprises' network and before it reaches the messaging system. Thereby reducing the flow of spam with immediate results and savings in every element of the messaging cost structure; from reduced bandwidth and IT infrastructure costs to recaptured end-user productivity.

MAPS was founded in late 1996 to pioneer the development of anti-spam technology and network policies. As the original anti-spam company, MAPS has become the industry leader in providing network layer spam blocking services. The executive team's insight into how companies grappled with the growing dilemma of spam flowing into and around the Internet led to the creation of the MAPS RBL+^® (Realtime Blackhole List) Master Service.

As the spammer's strategies have evolved, MAPS has also evolved its services to include a comprehensive offering that addresses the changing needs of its Enterprise, Hosting Provider and ISP customers. MAPS was founded with the creation of the very first RBL, to enable the blocking of IP addresses that are known sources of spam. As spammers became more sophisticated and began to hide their identity through the abuse of unprotected open mail relays, open proxies and easy to obtain dial-up accounts, MAPS responded by offering the MAPS RSS^® (Relay Spam Stopper), MAPS OPS^SM (Open Proxy Stopper) and MAPS DUL^® (Dynamic User List) services. As we continue to expand our service offerings, each new service enables our customers to more easily identify and block sources of spam, resulting in lower bandwidth and IT infrastructure costs, as well as greater end-user productivity.

In 2000, after four years of operating as a non-profit organization, MAPS started to charge for their services and now is a profitable company based in San Jose, California, the heart of Silicon Valley. Over the last four years MAPS has grown its paying customer base from zero to more than 2000, including many Global 2000 companies and leading ISPs. From High Tech and Financial Services to Healthcare and Education, MAPS has evolved its solution to meet the growing need to reduce spam in the global marketplace.