IBM to Unveil First Security Device From ISS


Less than a month after closing the $1.3 billion deal for Internet Security Systems (ISS), IBM Monday plans to unveil the first appliance from its security division.


The IBM Proventia Management SiteProtector device provides something of a
home base for a network, allowing network and host security operations to
be managed from one console, according to an IBM statement.


SiteProtector manages a number of software products from ISS, including
network-based intrusion prevention, multi-function systems, server and
desktop security, vulnerability management, anomaly detection and e-mail
security.


The new machine also manages antivirus software, something ISS machines
could not do before. The box also boasts an “update now” feature for
applying immediate security policy changes, and options for traffic analysis
and filtering.


The ability to manage all security software from one box cuts considerable
costs for customers because they don’t have to buy several security devices
or implement multiple management consoles to ward of security threats.


Not having to install, configure and maintain many machines has some
time-saving upside, too; SiteProtector ships pre-configured and can be set
up in half an hour or less, IBM said.


Greg Adams, vice president of product development for IBM ISS, said in a
statement SiteProtector is necessary at a time when Internet attackers are
finding new ways to exploit security vulnerabilities on networks.


The ISS products are also backed by the IBM ISS X-Force research and
development team, which is renowned for its vulnerability analysis.


The Proventia Management SiteProtector box will be available by the end of
the month.


By acquiring ISS, IBM officially thrust its iron into the security appliance market, where it competes with Cisco Systems , Secure Computing and EMC , which gained security hardware when it purchased
RSA Security earlier this year.


In related IBM hardware news, the company said it will begin offering four
System x servers with Intel’s new quad-core Xeon 5300 processor next week.


IBM said in a statement the new machines should offer three to four times
performance of systems that IBM offered less than a year ago.


They include the x3650, a 2U, two-socket rack server for medium and large
enterprises, starting at $2,419; the 1U x3550, a two-socket rack server for
medium and large businesses, starting at $2,369; the x3500 two-socket tower
server, starting at $2,189; and the x3400 for small and medium businesses,
starting at $1,839.


Clients can order quad-core systems beginning next Tuesday, with shipping
expected to begin in December for the system x3550 and x3650, and in January
for the x3400 and x3500.


Earlier this week, Dell became the first vendor to
announce
machines based on the Intel 5300. Dell’s will ship next week, too.

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