Cisco Announces First Virtual Private Network Management Platform to Deliver Both IPsec and MPLS for Security and Scalability.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 21, 2001

VPN Solution Center Now Provides Carrier Class Network and Service

Management for IPsec-Based Virtual Private Networks

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO), the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, today announced it is broadening the industry leading Cisco Virtual Private Network Solution Center (VPN SC) to deliver carrier class network and service management for IPsec-based virtual private networks.

Service providers can now cost effectively deploy large scale IPsec- and Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)-based VPNs through a common management platform, thereby reducing cost and complexity in their network operations.

"Virtual private networks are the catalyst for deployment of advanced New World IP-based services," said Anson Chen, general manager, Intelligent Network Services and Management, Cisco Systems. "VPN Solution Center consolidates complex management functions for both IPsec and MPLS architectures into one solution to provide efficient carrier class network and services management, enabling faster time to market and increased profitability."

Adding to VPN SC's existing MPLS support, IPsec capabilities now enable service providers to deliver highly differentiated IP VPN services with carrier class security and scalability. VPN SC automates the management of pre-shared keys and supports enrolled certificates on IPsec VPNs, thereby reducing the cost and lead times in provisioning large scale IPsec VPN services.

Cisco Announces First VPN Management Platform for IPsec and MPLS VPNs

Cisco VPN SC simplifies management of complex multi-access, multiplatform VPNs, facilitating rapid deployment of value-added services, reducing ongoing operations costs, and ultimately maximizing service provider profitability. VPN SC is a customizable and interoperable solution that can be seamlessly integrated with Ecosystem partner applications, providing full multi-vendor fault, configuration, accounting, performance, and security (FCAPS) functions in both the network and service management layers.

Many service providers and enterprises view outsourced VPNs as a scalable, reliable, and cost-effective means to focus on core business opportunities, and demand for virtual private network services continues to accelerate. With an IPsec platform, service providers are able to assure customers that their confidential information is protected with data encryption standard (DES) and 3DES level confidence.

"Cisco's innovation in combining MPLS and IPsec addresses the market's requirement for a flexible, carrier class VPN architecture. As corroborated in our Spring 2001 VPN study, users gain increased scalability, security and reliability without compromise by utilizing the strengths of both technologies," said Martha Young, research director, Enterprise Management Associates. "With the new IPsec capabilities in VPN SC, Cisco is responding to service provider requirements to cost-effectively provision and manage new VPN services based on IPsec and MPLS, using a common service management platform."

With standards-based interoperability, VPN SC has also been incorporated in operations support system (OSS) solutions provided by major system integrators and tier one service providers. These integrated solutions provide service providers customized and flexible OSSs to meet their specific requirements for advanced VPN services.

The Cisco VPN Solution Center carrier-class, end-to-end management for IPsec and MPLS platforms is currently available.

About Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco news and information are available at http://www.cisco.com.

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