Burton Group Maps Path to Virtual Enterprise Networks; Annual ``Vision'' Report Identifies Major Trends in Network Evolution for 2003.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 18, 2002

Burton Group, a technology-industry pioneer of network research and consulting, announced its vision for network services, highlighting the transition toward the Virtual Enterprise Network (VEN) model.

This year's annual "Vision" report identifies and analyzes the issues and technology decisions facing network architects as they move toward incorporating Web services and implementing a VEN.

Written by Burton Senior Vice President and Research Director Dan Blum, with contributions from Burton analysts Jim Kobielus, Jamie Lewis, Mike Neuenschwander, and Phil Schacter, "Vision 2003: The Path to Virtual Enterprise Networks" reinforces the need to build general-purpose directory services as an integration point for identity and access management infrastructures.

"As Web services create new applications and infrastructure standards, organizations are moving their network infrastructures toward the VEN model," said Blum. "To exacerbate the challenge for network planners, directory, identity management and security, and collaboration technologies are struggling to keep up."

From the customer perspective, the symptoms of transition are burgeoning demands for remote access, external partner access and interoperable identity, and authorization functions. These demands are forcing enterprises to deploy distributed, policy-based solutions to shore up eroding security perimeters.

Federated identity management, authentication and authorization offer new scaling opportunities, but a long learning curve lies ahead before the industry can exploit federation technologies and business models.

"IT budgets remain tight and customers are wary. Yet in the midst of belt-tightening, e-business needs continue to grow," said Blum. "Consequently, customers must get more out of the infrastructure they have, while proving the return on new investments.

"In some cases, this means customers will spend IT cycles shoring up their current products rather than upgrading, and the focus on justifying new purchases will sharpen. To make the cut, new infrastructure technologies must offer flexibility, interoperability and compatibility with the infrastructure that customers already have."

Adding to the complexity of network planning, heightened security threats and regulatory activity have increased security awareness. This places a premium on solutions that leverage directories, access management portals, collaboration, wireless and other technologies that protect corporate assets and personnel, while enduring business continuity through emergencies.

Tough economic times and cautious IT leaders are accelerating the consolidation of directory, security and collaboration products into multifunctional, integrated solutions that promise reduced cost of ownership.

In the Vision 2003 report, Burton analysts predict the following major trends: Web services and XML will excite the imagination, but raise technical and business issues; mobility will emerge as collaboration's next frontier; distributed security solutions will shore up eroding perimeters; customers will contend with perennial directory deployment issues; and identity and access management will come of age, with federation pointing the way to scalability.

Recognizing the widespread interest in Virtual Enterprise Networks, Burton Group is dedicating its ninth annual Catalyst Conference entirely to VEN topics. Held on July 15-17 in San Francisco, Catalyst will feature more than 60 presentations and discussions spanning security, Virtual Private Networks, Web services, VoIP, directories, wireless networking, and identity and access management topics.

Drawing hundreds of IT technologists, Catalyst Conference provides a forum for corporate IT leaders, the top vendors and expert analysts and consultants to thoroughly examine and discuss the hottest trends and issues in networking and how companies can capitalize on them to ease the transition and gain competitive advantage. Information about the Catalyst Conference is located at www.burtongroup.com/catalyst.

Burton is recognized as a champion for end users and a leading advisor to enterprise organizations as they plan and manage their network evolution. The company has long conducted workshops and training on network, directory and security planning, and routinely consults with some of the world's largest corporations on strategy and implementation.

Burton Group has successfully predicted emerging networking trends over the past decade, beginning with its prediction and definition of the role meta-directories play in an enterprise. Continuing the legacy, "Vision 2003" author Blum is an internationally recognized thought leader in the areas of security, directory and electronic messaging.

A regular columnist for Network World magazine, and the author of two critically acclaimed books and hundreds of articles and reports, Blum has developed security, directory and other IT architectures and strategies for some of the most innovative Global 1000 organizations. At Catalyst Conference, Blum will present his views on federated identity management and the risks that single sign-on poses to portal security.

The "Vision 2003: The Path to Virtual Enterprise Networks" report is available with a license to Burton's Network Strategy Service. Details about Burton's products and services are on www.burtongroup.com or e-mail information requests to [e-mail].

NOTE TO PRESS ONLY: Burton Group is extending complimentary registration to Catalyst Conference (www.burtongroup.com/catalyst) for members of the media. To register, contact Thomas Aitchison at [e-mail] or 512/335-8771 ext. 15.

About Burton Group

A technology-industry pioneer, Burton Group (www.burtongroup.com) is the only company to offer integrated research, advisory and consulting services, which are critical to Global 2000 enterprises planning the evolution of their network and applications infrastructure.

Burton consultants and analysts champion vendor-independent viewpoints as they guide IT professionals in the strategy of building and the tactics of managing scalable, secure, efficient networks.

Burton has specialized in network-technology research and analysis since its formation in 1990. The company predicted and defined the role that meta-directory plays in an enterprise.

Today, Burton continues to anticipate the direction of key networking technologies and guide the decision-making process for half the Fortune 100 and other enterprise clients in key markets such as education, banking/finance, health care, pharmaceuticals, automotive and manufacturing.