To: Edward J. Edwards, III who wrote (34181 ) 2/10/1998 8:28:00 AM From: Gary Korn Read Replies (1) | Respond to
ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 10, 1998--Ascend
Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASND) today announced that its Secure
Access Firewall has received best product recognition from Network
Computing just three months after taking top honors from PC Magazine.
Network Computing named Ascend's integrated security solution as
its "Editor's Choice" for Enterprise Security in its January 15
edition after testing the firewall with Ascend's Pipeline 75 remote
access router in a lab setting that mirrors the typical small
office/home office (SOHO) environment.
"Pipeline 75 shines as a versatile ISDN router," according to
Network Computing Online, announcing the winners on the World Wide
Web. "Add Secure Access Firewall, Ascend's security package, and
Pipeline 75 is transformed into a secure ISDN router."
Using its Syracuse University lab, Network Computing tested 11
devices costing less than $3,000 that offer ISDN connectivity with
bandwidth on demand, multiprotocol routing and bridging, and firewall
functionality. Ascend's low-cost Pipeline 75 with Secure Access
Firewall rated an "A-" in the magazine's Interactive Report Card.
Ascend's Secure Access Firewall rated notably higher than all
other security solutions, including products from ADC Kentrox, ADTRAN,
Chase Research, D-Link Systems D-Link, OpenROUTE Networks, RAD Data
Communications, Ramp Network, 3Com Corp., and ZyXEL Communications.
(See techweb.cmp.com
In October, Ascend's Secure Access Firewall also was a clear
winner over the Cisco PIX and Livingston FireWall IRX in PC Magazine's
"Editor's Choice" awards.
"It's gratifying to see these industry publications continue to
single out the Secure Access Firewall for its delivery of
sophisticated firewall features," said Doug LaBorde, product manager
for Ascend's Enterprise Access Business Unit. "It demonstrates to
companies how choices can be made in providing the right network
protection to a corporate site, remote office, and telecommuter's home
office."
To test security, the Network Computing lab generated spoofing
attacks using an ISS (Internet Security Systems) Firewall Scanner.
Ascend's firewall demonstrated robust security that adapted to network
traffic, opening and closing ports as needed, monitored traffic
passing over the firewall, and maintained a list of authorized
connections. "More important, however," according to the magazine, "it
logged the connection attempts made by ISS to our syslog, including
source IP address."
With the firewall active, many of the devices took performance
hits. But that was not the case with the Pipeline 75 with Secure
Access Firewall.
"When the packets stopped flying," Mike Fratto wrote for Network
Computing Online, "Ascend's Pipeline 75 with Secure Access Firewall
took top honors mainly because of its tight security, ease of
management and configuration, and excellent reporting features."
Network Computing also described the Pipeline 75's management
applications -- Java Configurator for Pipeline and Secure Access
Manager -- as "an administrator's dream." In less than an hour, its
testers had configured the devices and were making connections.
About Secure Access Firewall
Ascend's Secure Access Firewall is certified by the National
Computer Security Association, which provides independent assurance to
customers that products have been thoroughly tested to protect against
a comprehensive suite of known attacks. Firewalls are the preferred
method for protecting private resources from attack via the public
Internet.
Secure Access Firewall uses an intelligent, next-generation
technology that dynamically adapts to network traffic, providing a
finer granularity of security than is available through static packet
filtering. For example, during file transfer protocol (FTP)
transactions, Secure Access Firewall opens only those specific access
ports required, then automatically closes the ports at the end of the
session. Static packet filtering, on the other hand, opens all access
ports for every data transfer, providing an opportunity for hackers to
probe the network for the duration of that session.
About Ascend Communications
Ascend Communications, Inc. develops, manufactures, services and
sells wide area networking solutions for telecommunications carriers,
Internet service providers, and corporate customers worldwide. For
more information about Ascend and its products, please visit the
Ascend web site at www.ascend.com, or send e-mail to info@ascend.com.
Ascend is headquartered at One Ascend Plaza, 1701 Harbor Bay
Parkway, Alameda, CA 94502-3002. Phone: 800/ASCEND4; Fax:
510/747-2300.
--30--eh/sf*
CONTACT: Ascend Communications Inc.
Eric Warren, 510/747-6683
ewarren@ascend.com
or
Gallagher PR
Jeannette Bitz, 510/747-2058
jbitz@ascend.com
KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS COMED
INTERACTIVE/MULTIMEDIA/INTERNET PUBLISHING PRODUCT
