NORTEL NETWORKS BOOSTS NETWORK SECURITY WITH COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION, ALLIANCE PROGRAM.

Nortel Networks (NYSE:NT) (TSE:NT.) recently announced an innovative solution designed to increase performance in network security, and to enable information requiring security checks to be processed up to 250 times faster than before. Nortel Networks also announced a new alliance program intended to allow security products from industry-leading developers to be incorporated into one solution.

"Nortel Networks Security Solutions provide a comprehensive network security framework to enable businesses and service providers to deploy secure services and applications more quickly and cost-effectively," said Oscar Rodriguez, vice president, Metro Networks, Nortel Networks. "The net gain for end-users is the ability to conduct secure commerce transactions over the Internet with greater speed and assurance. Private information kept on computers can be protected from hackers with firewalls, critical for users with 'always-on' connections like DSL and cable modems. At the same time, remote telecommuters can connect easily to their corporate networks through secure VPN (virtual private networks) solutions."

The newest element in Nortel Networks comprehensive security portfolio, Alteon Security Cluster, groups security devices together and enables them to be managed as one. This allows secure networks to be operated more easily. It also provides enhanced security processing compared to what traditionally has been delivered via disparate, stand-alone devices.

"Alteon Security Cluster will help reduce the number of lost e-commerce transactions due to network slow downs or failures," Rodriguez said. "It will also speed up regular Internet traffic with significantly accelerated security checks."

Alteon Security Cluster is designed to deliver multi-gigabits per second acceleration of security applications according to the tailored requirements of customers. It consists of Alteon Web Switch, Alteon Security Appliances, and purpose-built software that accelerates a variety of security applications. It identifies which information requires security processing -- and what type of security checks -- and directs those sessions from the traffic flow to the correct security application.

"As applications push the speed limits of networks, the performance of security technologies will be the biggest challenge facing corporate security officers," said Matthew Kovar, director, Security Solutions and Services, Yankee Group. "Nortel Networks focus on creating open, security specific acceleration infrastructure allows the processing of security to move off the data switching backplane, and enables best-of-breed security solutions to be integrated to meet the security specific needs of their customers."

Nortel Networks Security Alliance Program is intended to enable top-performing security solutions to be incorporated onto purpose-built appliances. Internet Security Systems, Inc. (ISS) has plans to become one of the first members of the new alliance program, providing their intrusion detection technology to be incorporated onto Nortel Networks Security Solutions products.

"Protecting networks and information technology resources from malicious attacks is a significant and immediate area of focus for both enterprises and service providers around the world," said Steve Gant, vice president, solutions management and business development, Internet Security Systems, Inc. "ISS is looking forward to working with Nortel Networks as a member of the Nortel Networks Security Alliance Program. Through this contemplated alliance, ISS will enable Nortel Networks to offer its customers networking solutions that have intrusion detection embedded at the core of the solution."

The products of the Nortel Networks Security Solutions portfolio, all of which are generally available, include Contivity VPN Switch, Shasta 5000 Broadband Service Node, Alteon SSL Accelerator, Alteon Web Switches, Alteon Switched Firewall, and Alteon Security Cluster. The portfolio enables increased security across all elements of the network -- from performance acceleration of firewalls to intrusion protection to creation of VPNs.