Verio Inc. Tuesday
announced several additions to its virtual private network (VPN) services
aimed at U.S. businesses.
In an effort to improve its LAN to LAN performance and remote access and
extranet VPN services, Verio said it will provide substantially
higher-speed VPNs, VPN-enabled firewalls and personalized smart cards for
user authentication.
In addition, the company is also launching managed VPN security services to
provide outsourced VPN solutions. With these services customers do not have
to invest in eqipment and technical advice, which could prove costly. The
new enhancements are available to any size business throughout the country.
Featured in Verio’s enhanced VPN services are three security products that
protect Internet data: Watchguard’s Firebox II network security product;
IRE’s SafeNet suite of VPN solutions and Axent’s Raptor Firewall.
Firebox II system provides firewall protection for offices, encryption and
remote management for a network of Fireboxes. SafeNet features include user
authentication, random password generation, access control, hardware-based
data encryption and packet authentication. Raptor Firewall offers an
integrated VPN module with
user authentication, data encryption and data integrity.
VPNs enable companies to use Internet-based connections to link offices
instead of using leased lines and allow remote users or telecommuters to
make local calls rather than dialing into the office LAN at long distance
rates.
Verio said that information industry analysts target corporate VPNs as an
emerging sector that could rival the improtance of voice-mail and e-mail.
Analysts at Infonetics Research, Inc. say that 21 percent of U.S.
organizations using networks expect to implement a VPN, with worldwide
expenditures for service providers, VAR/integrators and VPN
product manufacturers projected to reach $11.9 billion by 2001.
“These new VPN and security services enhance our industry-leading Web
hosting and connectivity services,” said Verio Vice President of Sales and
Marketing Buddy Cunningham. “With our technical expertise, experience in
designing Internet solutions and existing VPN and security experience,
Verio is well-positioned to deliver a diverse range of Internet security
and VPN solutions. Most importantly, these solutions help our customers
significantly reduce long distance charges and traditional leased-line
costs.”
