Wayne N. Kawamoto
Managing Editor, www.smallbusinesscomputing.com
Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq:SYMC) announced Symantec Enterprise Firewall 7.0 and Symantec Enterprise VPN 7.0 for the Windows 2000/NT and Solaris platforms. According to the company, Symantec Enterprise Firewall and Symantec Enterprise VPN feature enhancements in speed, centralized management and ease-of-use, and may provide customers with a secure, high-speed firewall and VPN. In addition, Symantec Enterprise Firewall now offers the option to integrate high availability/load balancing solutions into the firewall, which may promote system uptime and enhance scalable throughput.
Symantec says that complex Internet threats require firewall technologies more sophisticated than those offered by traditional stateful inspection firewalls. Recognized for its superior protection against blended threats, such as Code Red and Nimda, Symantec Enterprise Firewall is designed to provide advanced full-inspection engines and automated system hardening to protect corporate networks from these types of attacks. Symantec claims that its Enterprise Firewall leads the market with its support for the newest, most secure and faster data encryption algorithm, Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). This full-inspection firewall should be able to scale to speeds in excess of 1.5Gbps, providing good throughput and performance for customers with T1 to Gigabit Ethernet connections.
The IPSec certified Symantec Enterprise VPN, which can be integrated with Symantec Enterprise Firewall or used alone, is designed to securely extend their network perimeters beyond the enterprise firewall by providing secure VPN server-side ProxySecured scanning of all IPSec connections, as well as, client-side firewall protection.
The centralized management of the firewall has also been improved to provide the ability to easily manage multiple similar firewalls. The Raptor Management Console displays a complete list of firewalls under management in one window-pane and firewall specific data in an adjacent pane, similar to browsing file folders on a PC. Simplified wizards and newly designed, advanced GUIs should provide for easy set-up of all the most common configurations. Symantec Enterprise VPN offers 1-Step Configuration, 1-Step Connect, remote administration and automated system hardening making it easy to manage and use.
Symantec Enterprise Firewall protects enterprise assets and business transactions with a secure, high-performance solution for ensuring safe connections with the Internet and between networks. Its hybrid architecture delivers security and speed, providing strong and transparent firewall protection against unwanted intrusion without slowing the flow of approved traffic on enterprise networks. By supporting an optional, standards-based, VPN, Symantec Enterprise Firewall can also provide secure, low-cost connectivity for remote offices and telecommuters. Because of its award-winning architecture, Symantec Enterprise Firewall should minimize vulnerabilities and deliver full-featured security, ensuring complete control of information entering and leaving the enterprise.
Availability
Symantec Enterprise Firewall 7.0 and Symantec Enterprise VPN 7.0 are currently available through Symantec’s network of value-added authorized resellers, distributors and systems integrators. Organizations can be connected with Symantec resellers or distributors in their areas by visiting the Symantec Solution Provider locator at http://www.symantecpartner.com/var/var_locate.html. For additional product information call 800/745-6054 or visit www.symantec.com.
