ARUBA NETWORKS/GENERAL DYNAMCS SIGN JOINT MARKETING PACT.Aruba Networks, Sunnyvale, Calif.,the Mobile Edge Company, has signed a joint marketing and reseller agreement with General Dynamics General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE: GD) is a defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2006 it is the sixth largest defense contractor in the world[1]. The company has changed markedly in the post-Cold War era of defense consolidation. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :GD) , under the U.S. Air Force Network Centric Solutions (NETCENTS NETCENTS Network-Centric Solutions (US Air Force) ) indefinite-delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ IDIQ Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (contracting/procurement) ) contract, to offer wireless LAN (WLAN See wireless LAN. WLAN - wireless local area network ) and mobility technology to the U.S. government. Working together under the U.S. Air Force NETCENTS program, General Dynamics has been designated by Aruba as a Strategic Solutions Partner to offer the federal government integrated WLAN platforms that deliver support for voice, security, and mobility. NETCENTS is an IDIQ contract that offers the Air Force, the DoD, and other federal agencies a single vehicle through which they can buy network-centric information technologies, networking equipment and services, as well as voice, video and data communications hardware and software. Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly offer a WLAN solution that meets new DoD mandates and incorporates Aruba's industry-leading Mobile Edge portfolio of WLAN mobility controllers and Access Points. The Aruba Networks solution delivers wireless intrusion detection and protection, high performance, FIPS-validated 802.11i, and compliance with the new DoD directive, making them an ideal choice for the NETCENTS program. "The addition of Aruba's innovative technology makes for a formidable NETCENTS team," said Merv Andrade, Aruba's chief technology officer. "General Dynamics Information Technology is a world class organization and we look forward to pursuing this market with such a clear leader." Mobile Edge Ideal for the Federal Market Aruba is the first and only vendor to offer an integrated system for the federal marketplace, including wireless intrusion detection and prevention, FIPS-validated Layer 2 and 3 encryption, and proven transition to FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards) A series of publications issed by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that specifies information security guidelines for federal government departments and agencies. 140-2 approved 802.11i. Recently approved by NIST (National Institute of Standards & Technology, Washington, DC, www.nist.gov) The standards-defining agency of the U.S. government, formerly the National Bureau of Standards. It is one of three agencies that fall under the Technology Administration (www.technology. , 802.11i is a WLAN security standard that significantly improves the security of WLAN communications when operating in the FIPS-approved Robust Security Network (RSN RSN - Real Soon Now ) mode. New WLAN policies from the DoD mandate that all network infrastructure and clients connected to the DoD Global Information Grid The globally interconnected, end-to-end set of information capabilities, associated processes and personnel for collecting,processing, storing, disseminating and managing information on demand to warfighters, policy makers, and support personnel. must be FIPS 140-2 approved for 802.11i and must meet a number of other requirements related to authentication, encryption, strong identification, wireless intrusion detection, and validation. Currently, Aruba is the only WLAN system that meets these requirements. The market for wireless technology within the Federal government has gone from a complete moratorium on the use of Wi-Fi technology to using Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) technologies to enable wireless as a mainstream means of transport See: mode of transport. , and the adoption rate is strong. According to Gartner, Inc.'s July 2006 "Hype Cycle for Government, 2006," Wi-Fi has already been adopted by five to twenty percent of the target audience and is on the "Plateau of Productivity," which "represents the beginning of mainstream adoption, when the real-world benefits of the technology are demonstrated and accepted." About Aruba Networks Aruba Networks is a fast-growing enterprise infrastructure company enabling the Mobile Edge, an evolutionary network architecture that represents a new approach to transitioning enterprise networks from a fixed, port-based architecture to an architecture centered on secure, identity-based mobility. The Mobile Edge simultaneously delivers mobile data and VoIP services, as well as a common user experience to mobile workers in the office, at home and on the road, by creating a secure mobility overlay that spans the LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. , the WAN and the Internet. To deliver the Mobile Edge, Aruba manufactures and markets a complete line of fixed and modular mobility controllers, wired and wireless access points, an advanced mobility software suite, and a mobility management system. Privately held and based in Sunnyvale, California, Aruba has operations in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and employs staff around the world. For more information, visit http://www.arubanetworks.com or call 415/392-2300. |
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