Solsoft Announces Policy Server Version 6; Brings Business Intelligence to Network Security Management.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

NetWorld+Interop 2004 Las Vegas 

Booth #3225

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 11, 2004

New reporting module proves indispensable for compliance-savvy and cost-conscious IT organizations

Solsoft, Inc. (www.solsoft.com) the leading provider of network security policy management solutions, today announced the release of Solsoft Policy Server 6.0, an open system for centralized management of firewalls, routers, switches and VPNs from market leaders such as Cisco, Juniper/NetScreen, Check Point, Nortel, Symantec and Linux-based vendors.

Version 6 introduces security policy analytics functionality that facilitates the job of IT organizations striving to meet regulatory compliance obligations. With the new reporting module, users can extract audit and change history information from a centralized repository of network security policies. Also new is "VPN Tunnel Grouping," which enables automated provisioning of thousands of fully-meshed and hub-and-spoke IPsec VPN tunnels.

Using Solsoft Policy Server, network and information security teams collaborate to define, store, deploy, and audit policies across large and complex networks. 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.

"Complexity is the reason that security device vendor management tools fail to meet customer needs," said Gilles Samoun, CEO of Solsoft. "IT managers need a higher level of security intelligence in order to manage risk and complexity in an age of compliance. Solsoft Policy Server is the only policy-based, multi-vendor management platform that accurately models the enterprise network topology, enabling customers to enforce consistent, proactive, end-to-end security policies across complex networks."

Security Intelligence for Complex Networks

The 6.0 release of Solsoft Policy Server expands upon the product's unparalleled security configuration management functionality to deliver superior business intelligence on network security policies. A new Web-based user interface, Solsoft Security Reporter, enables security managers, network administrators, and IT systems auditors to create easy-to-read reports on different aspects of network security policies, such as access control settings and device change histories. The new interface complements the existing, Java-based Solsoft Security Designer GUI, a state-of-the-art console that gives network security engineers a topographical, drag-and-drop environment in which to design and troubleshoot firewall, NAT and VPN rules.

"Organizations facing HIPAA, Sarbanes-Oxley, ISO, and other regulatory compliance challenges require practical and cost-effective solutions for network security intelligence and policy management," said Paul Proctor, Vice President with META Group's Security & Risk Strategies Advisory Service. "Solsoft's solution is the first of its kind to model the complex relationships between all network entities in an enterprise security topology, regardless of the brand or function of the security devices involved. The big win for compliance-savvy IT organizations is that design, deployment and auditing of network security policies - normally lengthy and labor-intensive undertakings - are now not only vastly easier, but also far more reliable."

With Solsoft Security Reporter, users extract audit and change history information from a centralized repository of network security policies. For the first time in the industry, at the click of a mouse, IT managers and auditors can see in seconds which IP ports are permitted to flow through a network. As an example, a user can know instantly which networks and servers allow traffic on port 135, the port used by the Blaster worm. Solsoft Security Reporter gives customers a dashboard-level view of the policy lifecycle, including rule summaries and deployment status. The new module also takes advantage of the granular logging and versioning features in the Solsoft Policy Server repository, enabling users to compare policy versions and run detailed project activity reports.

VPN Tunnel Grouping

In addition to the business intelligence and auditing functionality introduced with the new Solsoft Security Reporter module, Solsoft Policy Server 6.0 Enterprise Edition also includes a groundbreaking VPN Tunnel Grouping option that enables rapid and scalable VPN provisioning. Using this new functionality, Solsoft customers can define thousands of VPN tunnels in minutes and provision them in under an hour. The technology, which relies on Solsoft's patented network policy design engine, is also highly intuitive and flexible, enabling customers to quickly and accurately configure fully-meshed and hub-and-spoke IPsec VPNs, even in multi-vendor network environments.

Availability and Pricing

Solsoft Policy Server 6.0 is scheduled to ship in Q3, 2004. Pricing starts at $14,995 for the Standard Edition and $49,995 for the Enterprise Edition. Solsoft Security Reporter and VPN Tunnel Grouping will be available as options to Solsoft Policy Server Enterprise Edition.

About Solsoft

Founded in 1997, Solsoft is the leading provider of network security policy management solutions, enabling businesses to quickly deploy and update error-proof security policies across their enterprise networks. Solsoft's customers include businesses from all markets and industry segments, such as large and medium-sized enterprises, service providers, military, government, and education. Customers worldwide use Solsoft's solution for initial security policy deployments, role-based configuration change control, policy audits, and response to network attacks. Solsoft is based in Mountain View (California - USA) and in Levallois-Perret (France). www.solsoft.com