Nortel Networks and ISS Sign Strategic Agreement
SANTA CLARA, Calif./ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 16, 1998--
Companies to Deliver Interoperability between Adaptive Security
and Switch Technology, Making it Easier
for Customers to Protect Critical Networked Data
Nortel Networks (NYSE:NT)(TSE:NTL) and Internet Security Systems (ISS) (Nasdaq:ISSX) today announced a strategic agreement, bringing together leaders in the networking and adaptive network security markets.
As part of this agreement, the companies have engaged in a relationship to deliver immediate interoperability and longer term product integration between ISS' SAFEsuite(R) line of adaptive network security software and Nortel Networks product lines to provide enhanced enterprise security solutions to customers worldwide. In a phased approach to be launched in December, ISS and Nortel Networks will deliver specific soft product bundles of Nortel Networks and ISS technology to the market, with the Nortel Networks resale of ISS' SAFEsuite family of security assessment and intrusion detection products targeted to take place the first quarter of 1999. The companies also plan to conduct more extensive product integration in the second half of 1999.
Nortel Networks and ISS will initially integrate ISS' RealSecure(tm) intrusion detection system with Nortel Networks' award-winning Passport product line. Within the framework of the recently announced Adaptive Network Security Alliance (ANSA), this interoperability will provide customers with an easy-to-deploy solution for around-the-clock information protection from security threats. RealSecure, the industry's most advanced intrusion detection solution, combined with Nortel Networks' Passport products and unique NetSentry feature will provide customers the ability to detect and respond to network attacks from any and all switch ports. This uniquely optimized solution significantly reduces the complexity and cost of implementing intrusion detection technology within switched network environments, enabling end-to-end network security threat management.
"As security risks continue to rise with more critical data residing on the network, implementing adaptive network security technology has become a high priority for our customers," said Ed Pillman, vice president and general manager of Multimedia Enterprise Systems, Nortel Networks. "Today, we are excited to embark on a relationship with the leader in the adaptive network security market to meet this demand, enabling our customers to reap the benefits of open systems while actively protecting their valuable networked information. With ISS' heritage of technology innovation and Nortel Networks' state-of-the-art product architectures, we will be able to offer our customers the technology and knowledge they need to help enable secure electronic commerce."
Tom Noonan, president and chief executive officer of Internet Security Systems, added, "Managing high performance and high capacity networks requires the ability to automatically recognize and stop security break ins. We are thrilled to be joining forces with a respected leader in the networking industry to accelerate the deployment of powerful security solutions specifically designed for optimal performance in switched environments. This agreement marks ISS' continued commitment toward providing organizations with a security control system that can automatically adapt to changing network conditions and security risks." |
