Force10 Vice President Sees Broadband Adoption Driving Requirement for High Speed Security.

MILPITAS, Calif. -- The prevalence of broadband coupled with the growing demand for bandwidth-intensive applications like online gaming is driving the need for higher speed networks in Japan, said Force10 Networks Vice President of Corporate Marketing Stephen Garrison. In addition, while greater capacity resolves the bottleneck issues, there remains a significant problem with how to secure the network without impacting performance.

"Networking technology has rapidly outpaced security, leaving high speed networks vulnerable to breaches," continued Garrison during a conference with Japan's leading service providers and application vendors. "The continued adoption of 10 Gigabit Ethernet to facilitate bandwidth-intensive applications like online gaming is dependent upon the ability to provide security at the speed of the network."

With the rise of malicious attacks, security breaches and compromised personal information, it is crucial that every packet in the network is inspected. Accomplishing this at 10 Gigabit speeds requires a new approach to security that more efficiently processes rules without creating a network bottleneck.

With the sustained growth of new applications, such as online gaming, voice over IP (VoIP), IPTV and streaming media, high speed security has become a business imperative. Additionally, with a 45 percent broadband penetration rate in Japan, types of bandwidth-intensive applications are also driving the need for the next generation of Ethernet technology.

"The Japanese market has traditionally been at the forefront of the broadband revolution, advancing on both the applications and network fronts," Garrison said. "It is this innovation and the determination to continually find new ways to leverage broadband connectivity that is driving the demand for 100 Gigabit Ethernet."

SEGA recently upgraded its online gaming network to 10 Gigabit Ethernet with the Force10 TeraScale E-Series. Supporting 1,260 Gigabit and 224 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports, the TeraScale E-Series increases the reliability of SEGA's network and delivers the scalability the online game leader requires to accommodate thousands of interactive users.

To protect high speed networks, Force10 recently introduced the industry's first security appliance that can inspect, monitor and capture traffic at line-rate 10 Gigabit speeds. Leveraging a unique architecture that processes thousands of rules in parallel, the P-Series family of security appliances protects the network without compromising performance.

About Force10 Networks

Force10 Networks is the pioneer in building and securing high performance switching and routing. Based on a revolutionary system architecture that delivers best-in-class resiliency and massive scalability, Force10's TeraScale E-Series switch/routers ensure predictable application performance, increase network availability, and reduce operating costs. Today, many of the world's largest Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet networks depend on Force10 Networks. For additional information, please visit the company's website at www.force10networks.com.

Force10, E-Series, P-Series, S-Series, TeraScale and FTOS are trademarks of Force10 Networks, Inc. All other company names are trademarks of their respective holders.