Seeking to repackage and revitalize its approach to selling high performance
virtual private networks, chip manufacturer Intel
Corp. (NASDAQ:INTL) today rolled out its latest suite that will enable
clients to securely connect remote users to branch offices and business
partners over the Internet.
The new VPN devices are part of the growing Intel and NetStructure
product line, which includes scalable network control equipment, Internet
appliances, and services that add greater intelligence to computer networks
to help companies provide a faster e-business experience.
Given the Internet economy”s hectic climate, the suite should help accommodate
the busiest of road warriors looking to slither by the company firewall to
access corporate data while waiting for that early-bird flight.
Doug Smith, product line manager, Intel Communications, said Intel”s VPN
applications send data through encrypted VPN “tunnels,” which act as a
secure pipeline.
“This was created very much for the more performance-based customer,” Smith
told InternetNews.com Monday. “Most of our competitors will offer unlimited
VPN clients, but we also offer a firewall. So, ultimately, we offer security
at the perimeter, the client and data center.”
Indeed, the products are fully compliant with the popular IPSec 1.1 industry
security standard, and include an ICSA firewall, unlimited remote clients,
and BlackICE Defender personal firewall.
Also appealing to clients, Smith said, is that the VPN suite supports
Windows 2000 clients because it “hosts an embedded VPN client so that users
may connect to our gateway.”
Such VPN products, also provided by heavy hitters the likes of Nortel Networks (NYSE:NT) and Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) are
being deployed en masse by service providers and enterprises to eliminate
expensive long-distance dial-in and leased-line connections, reducing costs
without sacrificing security or performance.
The worldwide market for VPN equipment and software will more than triple
from $1.2 billion this year to $3.7 billion in 2004, according
to Infonetics Research in San Jose.
One major client, UUNET, praised the
upgraded VPN suite.
“The inclusion of Intel”s products in UUNET”s VPN Vendor Alliance Program
has allowed UUNET to extend its portfolio of leading-edge, high-performance
VPN solutions to meet the needs of businesses today,” Greg Moore, vice
president, products and development, UUNET.
Intel”s highest-performing VPN gateways — the Intel NetStructure 3130 and
3125 VPN Gateways — deliver up to 95 MB per second
of throughput and 10,000 simultaneous tunnels for demanding VPN
environments.
The Intel NetStructure 3110, 3120 and 3130 VPN Gateways will be available
Sept. 14 at the suggested price of $3,495, $10,995 and $20,995,
respectively. The Intel NetStructure 3125 VPN Gateway will be available Nov.
22 at the suggested U.S. list price of $20,995.
