Burton Group Releases Research Report Thoroughly Examining VPN Technology; VPN TeleBriefing Scheduled Oct. 30, 2001.

Business Editors

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 26, 2001

"VPNs: Types and Issues," First in a Four-Part Series

That Will Help Demystify VPN Technology

Burton Group, a technology-industry pioneer of network research and consulting, has released a new report that examines the technologies for creating and deploying IP-based virtual private networks.

"VPNs: Types and Issues" is the first report in a four-part series that Burton will publish on VPNs. The company will also hold an informative TeleBriefing about VPN technology on Oct. 30, 2001.

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 VPN planning and strategy, and routinely consults with some of the world's largest corporations on VPN strategy and implementation.

"As interest in virtual private networks increases, enterprise IT executives face a confusing array of information about the types and capabilities of VPNs," said Dave Kosiur, Burton senior analyst and report author. "This series of reports will demystify VPN technology and help network planners make the best decisions for their companies."

Enterprise network planners face a number of issues when developing a VPN strategy. A wide variety of methods for building either intranet or extranet VPNs exist today. Decisions must be made on whether to use encrypted-tunnel protocols or Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), which network topology to use, and whether to build the network in-house or outsource to a service provider.

Furthermore, enterprises must select from multiple protocols, Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP), IP Security (IPSec) protocol and MPLS. In addition to choosing a protocol and selecting products, planners must consider many requirements: security, scalability, reliability, addressing, management, remote access, performance and interoperability.

"VPNs: Types and Issues" examines the technologies for creating, and the major issues involving, the deployment of IP-based virtual private networks.

The report compares encrypted-tunnel protocols to MPLS, discusses intranet and extranet-based VPNs, contrasts VPNs to other services, classifies VPNs, examines VPN protocols and explores the issues surrounding the primary requirements for virtual private networks. Future reports will delve deeper into MPLS-based VPNs, encrypted-tunnel VPNs and higher-level VPN alternatives.

The "VPNs: Types and Issues" report is available with a license to Burton's Networks & Telecom Strategy Service. Details about Burton's products and services are on www.burtongroup.com or e-mail information requests to [e-mail].

VPN TeleBriefing: Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2001 at 12 p.m. ET

Burton Group will hold a TeleBriefing on virtual private network types and issues on Oct. 30 at 12 p.m. Eastern Time. Burton senior analyst and VPN report author David Kosiur will conduct a 90-minute session to cover the fundamentals of classifying VPNs according to enterprise uses, enterprise control and the technologies used to create a VPN.

The discussion of VPN technologies will focus on the differences between encrypted-tunnel VPNs and MPLS-based VPNs.

Kosiur will also present the pros and cons of the different types of VPNs within a framework of security, scalability, addressing, security management, remote access, performance and interoperability. A question and answer period will follow the presentation.

To register, send e-mail to [e-mail], call 801/304-8121, or toll-free in the United States, 800/824-9924, ext. 121.

Kosiur's report is available at no charge for the press only. If you are with the media and are interested in receiving a copy of "VPNs: Types and Issues," please e-mail Jaculynn Peterson at [e-mail].

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 almost half the Fortune 100 and other global clients.