Nevis Networks Extends Network Access Control beyond Endpoint Posture Checking.

Persistent LAN Security Integrates with Microsoft Network Access Protection to Enforce Pre-and Post-Connect User Access Control

SAN FRANCISCO -- Nevis Networks, a market leader in a new class of comprehensive enterprise LAN security solutions, today announced it will demonstrate how its persistent LAN security technology uniquely supports all three elements of Microsoft Network Access Protection (NAP) security framework, which includes the 802.1x standard, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and IPsec technologies. Using Microsoft NAP, Nevis enables enterprises to continuously enforce pre- and post-connect network access control for individual users accessing LAN and data center resources from wired, wireless, remote and branch locations. Nevis will provide technology demonstrations of its pre-and-post-connect network access security solution at the RSA Security Conference being held here February 5-9 at the Moscone Center. [Note: LAN Security Demonstrations at Nevis Networks RSA Booth #2519 and Microsoft Network Access Protection booth #2325.]

NAP is a policy enforcement technology built into the operating systems of Windows Vista and Windows Server--code-named "Longhorn." It allows customers to better protect network assets from unhealthy computers by enforcing compliance with network health policies. Microsoft NAP technology is publicly available with trial versions of Windows Vista, and available to select partners and customers with Beta 2 of the future version of Windows Server Longhorn.

"Because Microsoft provides a robust pre-connect authentication capability built right into its new Windows Vista operating system, we believe the need for stand alone 'pre-connect only' products will become redundant," said Shane Buckley, chief operating officer for Nevis Networks. "When you couple their technical achievement with the absence of a ratified 'network access control' standard, we view the Microsoft NAP initiative to be the most practical and imminent solution to the pre-connect challenges for broad enterprise deployment."

By supporting all three NAP technologies (802.1x, DHCP and IPsec), Nevis provides customers with the flexibility to select the right underlying technology most appropriate for their specific network infrastructure security needs. Coupling Microsoft NAP with Nevis' persistent LAN security will enable customers to achieve tighter control over and visibility into regulatory compliance requirements while controlling access to sensitive and confidential data. It will also support the rapid and secure provisioning of appropriate network access for partners, contractors and guest users.

"Customers have told us that in addition to deploying robust pre-connect network access protection for their endpoints, there is a growing need to deliver persistent post-connect LAN security," said Mike Schutz, group product manager of security and access products at Microsoft Corp. "Companies like Nevis Networks offer security expertise that dovetails with Microsoft technologies to extend access control measures for LANs well beyond simple endpoint authentication."

Nevis Networks' LANenforcer[R] LAN security switch and appliance auto-sense NAP clients and act as a network enforcement point within the NAP framework. The LANenforcer systems also auto-sense non-NAP and non-Windows endpoints to provide additional pre-connect authentication checks. As a result, NAP can be easily rolled out in heterogeneous environments with minimal configuration efforts.

Because Nevis solutions are fully interoperable with NAP, customers can transparently deploy its comprehensive LAN security solution for existing network infrastructures and applications. Nevis and Microsoft interoperability also provides a migration path for a future rollout of NAP and Windows Vista. The combined Nevis and Microsoft technologies will provide user authentication, identity-based network and application access control, persistent threat detection and identity-based visibility that provides real-time and historical monitoring and reporting.

About Nevis Networks

Nevis Networks provides innovative ASIC-based LAN security systems designed to help corporations protect information privacy and integrity, ensure network availability, and maintain regulatory compliance. With its patent-pending LANsecure[TM] architecture, the Nevis LANenforcer product family integrates NAC with the deepest threat containment at wire speed to create a "Personal DMZ" around every user on the LAN. Nevis was founded in 2002 by seasoned executives with strong track records in security, semiconductor design, and networking technologies, and has raised over $40 million from veteran Silicon Valley investors New Enterprise Associates, BlueRun Ventures, and New Path Ventures. The company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with additional R&D centers in Pune, India and Beijing, China.