Canadian Internet Service Provider Automates Security Management with Solsoft; Reseau Internet Quebec sees rapid ROI using Solsoft Policy Server.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- Offering organizations scalable software solutions to better manage security policies across large and complex networks, Solsoft, Inc. (www.solsoft.com) today announced that Reseau Internet Quebec (RIQ), one of the first commercial Internet Service Providers to set up shop in Quebec City, Canada, has saved as much as 80 percent of administration time using Solsoft Policy Server to automatically configure scores of its perimeter security devices.

"Prior to deploying Solsoft Policy Server, we had to manually administer our security devices using command-line interfaces that were proprietary and thus awkward and too difficult to use without a lot of domain expertise," said Simon Roy, IT Director for RIQ, Inc. "It was problematic because our network is composed of several devices from different vendors, and it took too much time to control and update each device individually. The process was prone to human error, due to the complexity of a multi-vendor environment in which there is a lot of complex devices."

For large or heterogeneous networks, applying security rules consistently end to end helps create order out of chaos. Solsoft Policy Server simplifies security management by automatically generating and centrally propagating polices across firewalls, routers, switches, and VPN equipment from leading vendors such as Cisco, Juniper, Nortel, Check Point, ISS and Symantec.

Since adopting Solsoft Policy Server, RIQ is able to design and deploy accurate security configurations on their routers (Cisco) and firewalls (Cisco PIX, Check Point, and Linux netfilter), as well as audit their security policies from a single interface. Standalone vendor management interfaces are designed to work only with a given vendor's own gear, whereas Solsoft Policy Server combines the management of several products into a single console - it consolidates the tasks of enforcing security rules across network devices and reporting on these policies as they evolve.

"Although it is difficult to pin down exactly an ROI figure, we are easily spending 80 percent less time maintaining security configurations that affect critical devices on our core network," said Roy. "I have the confidence now that my policies are correctly documented and modifications are being performed much faster and without errors. Solsoft Policy Server has certainly paid for itself in short order, and we plan to upgrade soon to take advantage of new reporting features."

Over 200 customers worldwide, including more than 20 Fortune 500 companies, use Solsoft's line of multi-vendor management products for compliance with regulations and standards, collaborative security policy design and maintenance, role-based security configuration change control, policy audits, and response to network attacks.

Most recently, Solsoft announced version 7 of its Policy Server, which is built on a new and robust J2EE-based architecture. Version 7 introduces an improved graphical user interface, server backup and recovery features, report templates, security rule calculation optimizations, and other enhancements designed to meet the demands of large and complex network environments.

About Reseau Internet Quebec Inc.

Founded in 1994, Reseau Internet Quebec (RIQ) is a specialized Internet Service Provider for corporation, institution and government. The strength of the company is based on a fine technical analysis of customers needs, which give to RIQ the ability to propose the best of the technology to deliver services in a secure environment. Service, quality and security are the basics of all Reseau Internet Quebec services such as web application hosting with strict network security policy, server hosting with specific and dedicated network security policy and fiber optic Internet connection with customized network security policy. Moreover, secure email services with sophisticated and multiple anti-virus and anti-spam filtering are used by ten thousand customers with an end-user satisfaction of 99 percent. For more information please visit www.riq.qc.ca, send e-mail to [e-mail] or call [phone].

About Solsoft

Founded in 1997, Solsoft is the leading provider of network security policy management solutions, with production deployments in more than 20 Fortune 500 companies and over 200 customer sites worldwide. Solsoft solutions enable organizations to centrally control the design, deployment, and documentation of security policies across enterprise, service-provider, and government networks. The company's flagship product, Solsoft Policy Server, offers centralized management of firewalls, routers, switches, VPN, intrusion prevention, intrusion detection, and other security equipment from market leaders such as Cisco, Juniper, Check Point, Nortel, Symantec, Internet Security Systems, and Linux-based vendors. Solsoft's policy-based system hardens networks against attacks and human error by making sure security rules are consistent end-to-end - something that in large, heterogeneous networks is practically impossible to do by hand or with vendor-specific management tools. Customers use Solsoft Policy Server for compliance with regulations and standards, collaborative security policy design and maintenance, role-based security configuration change control, policy audits, and response to network attacks. For more information about Solsoft, please visit www.solsoft.com, send e-mail to [e-mail], or call 877-646-8225.