Internet Security Systems Expands Proventia Access Control for Enterprise Customers with Network Admission Control (NAC) Integration
LONDON – February 27, 2006 – Internet Security Systems, Inc. (ISS) (NASDAQ: ISSX), the worldwide leader in pre-emptive, enterprise security, today announced that its Proventia® Desktop Endpoint Security product now supports the Cisco Network Admission Control (NAC) framework. Support for the Cisco NAC framework further expands the network compliance options available to ISS customers, building upon ISS’ own Proventia Access Control solution and existing support for other leading network access control protocols. Network access control technologies play a key role in enterprise security, especially in organisations with remote and mobile users, by ensuring that any device attempting to connect to a corporate network is protected by the host security measures required by the respective organisation.
Network Admission Control (NAC) is a set of technologies and solutions built on an industry initiative led by Cisco Systems®. NAC uses the network infrastructure to enforce security policy compliance on all devices seeking to access network computing resources, thereby limiting damage from emerging security threats such as viruses, worms and spyware. NAC is part of the Cisco Self-Defending Network, a strategy to dramatically improve the network’s ability to automatically identify, prevent and adapt to security threats.
The new Proventia Desktop module that supports a Cisco NAC framework assesses the security posture of a system running Proventia Desktop and reports information back to the Cisco components that handle verification and enforcement of security policies. Through its integration with the Cisco Trust Agent, ISS plays a key role in blocking, quarantining or authorising devices requesting network access.
“Cisco is pleased to have ISS join this collaborative industry program,” said Russell Rice, director of product marketing at Cisco Systems, Inc. “Together through the Cisco NAC framework, we are empowering IT departments to regain control of their systems and defend against a variety of threats from wherever they might attempt to enter the network.”
“ISS remains committed to working with leading industry partners such as Cisco Systems to help ensure that global networks are able to automatically protect against Internet intrusions,” said Heath Thompson, vice president of engineering at Internet Security Systems. “Only through broad industry collaboration will we ultimately succeed in helping organisations around the world ensure greater protection for information assets.”
Along with offering a module that integrates with a Cisco NAC framework, ISS, through its existing Proventia Access Control technology, already checks to make sure that devices requesting access to a network have desktop security installed before trying to connect. Proventia Desktop also has an open application program interface (API) that can be integrated into any network compliance technology, and ISS will continue to extend its solution to work with additional popular network access control technologies and protocols.
In addition to preventing unauthorised access to the network, Proventia Desktop Endpoint Security provides pre-emptive, enterprise-class protection against today’s most damaging Internet threats including spyware, worms, viruses and other malware. Proventia Desktop was designed to meet the needs of distributed enterprises where computing assets routinely travel outside of the organisation’s network security infrastructure, leaving mobile or remote systems vulnerable to all forms of attacks. Proventia Desktop easily integrates into existing IT infrastructure and can be managed locally on the desktop by an administrator; centrally using ISS’ Proventia Management SiteProtectorâ„? security management console; or remotely through ISS’ award-winning Managed Security Services.
For more information about Cisco NAC framework please visit: www.cisco.com/go/nac
For more information on Proventia Desktop Endpoint Security, please visit: http://www.iss.net/products_services/enterprise_protection/proventia_desktop/index.php
About Internet Security Systems, Inc.
Internet Security Systems, Inc. (ISS) is the trusted security advisor to thousands of the world’s leading businesses and governments, providing pre-emptive protection for networks, desktops and servers. An established leader in security since 1994, ISS’ integrated security platform automatically protects against both known and unknown threats, keeping networks up and running and shielding customers from online attacks before they impact business assets. ISS products and services are based on the proactive security intelligence of its X-Force® research and development team – the unequivocal world authority in vulnerability and threat research. ISS’ product line is also complemented by comprehensive Managed Security Services. For more information, visit the Internet Security Systems website at www.iss.net/uk or call (0)1753 845 100.
This release, other than historical information, includes forward-looking statements made pursuant to the “safe harbour” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Some of these forward-looking statements include those describing future NAC capabilities not yet released. The risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: the level of demand for ISS’ products; product and price competition; the extent to which unauthorised access to and use of online information is perceived as a threat to network security; customer budgets; risks concerning the rapid change of technology; and general economic factors. These risks and others are discussed in ISS’ periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings can be obtained either by contacting ISS Investor Relations or through the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.