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BladeFusion Creates Multi-Bladed Security Solution For Telcos

BladeFusion announced the industry's first open system-based multi-bladed security switch solution for enterprises and telcos.

Powered by IBM eServer BladeCenter, the new BladeFusion IP-X 1000 Secure Operating Environment combines best of breed security applications with the industry's most powerful blade server solution, allowing customers to consolidate multiple components of a security infrastructure onto a single platform to create a more powerful, more resilient, cost-effective and easier-to-manage security gateway solution.

"This announcement represents a major breakthrough in our ability to provide customers superior Telco-quality features and performance in a highly-secure open-systems environment," said Amir Barnea, CEO of BladeFusion. "We've created a security platform that gives Enterprise and Telco clients something they've never had before, an open system solution that combines central management and powerful blade components from leading hardware vendors like IBM and Nortel Networks to create significant cost performance advantages and low total cost of ownership for customers of all sizes."

The BladeCenter/BladeFusion platform is IBM Server Proven and delivers a complete Multi-functional Secure Connectivity solution comprised of the following components:

"Momentum around IBM eServer BladeCenter continues to build," said Juhi Jotwani, director of BladeCenter Alliances, IBM Systems and Technology Group. "We are working with BladeFusion and best-of-breed security partners to provide customers with an open systems carrier-class network security platform solution to protect their businesses. Enterprises and service providers can now choose to buy security applications on a much more scalable platform, compared to traditional best of breed security applications on rack server and dedicated appliances. Application segment targets for the BladeFusion solution include Firewall/VPN, Anti Virus, Content and Spam filtering, Intrusion Prevention and IT security management."

"We are pleased to partner with BladeFusion and IBM to integrate VPN-1 Pro, VPN-1 VSX, and Zone Labs Integrity Server on this powerful Multi-Bladed Security Switch solution," said Upesh Patel, director of business development for Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. "This is an ideal offering for customers looking for an open-systems based blade platform for deploying firewall, VPN and endpoint security policy management in complex environments such as data centers, and large, segmented networks. This offering enables industry- leading scalability, management, and performance for the data center and enterprise."

"IBM offers the industry's only truly secure blade server offering. Encrypted application sessions can be brought directly into the BladeCenter chassis and can be re-directed by the intelligent GbESM (Nortel Networks Layer 2-7 Gigabit Ethernet Switch Module) to a server blade that will perform the decryption/encryption of the sessions within the safe confines of the BladeCenter. In addition, through the GbESM, the IBM BladeCenter is unique in the industry in its ability to offer up to 1,024 policy filters; provide support for data to be mirrored to an Intrusion Detection System; block against deadly viruses; and offer safeguards against devastating Syn Attacks or Denial-of-Service attacks," said Atul Bhatnagar, vice president and general manager of Enterprise Data Networks for Nortel Networks

Customers and channels already benefiting from the new BladeFusion solution include Exostar, the leading provider of integrated supply-chain solutions to the aerospace and defense (A&D) industry, Maccabi Healthcare a 1.7 million patient HMO, and InTechnology a pan-European distributor of security appliances and software.

"After successfully deploying Bladefusion for our own security gateway, Exostar is now recommending the IBM/BF platform as the platform of choice for its Secure ForumPass Gateway to its Aerospace Industry customers worldwide, said Jeff Nigriny, chief security officer at Exostar. "We believe the best way to maintain our SLA commitments in a distributed system is with IBM/Bladefusion's high availability self healing platform. It provides the most cost effective way for us to deploy and support the mission critical gateways essential to the security of our business service

"As a large HMO, the BladeCenter/BladeFusion multi-bladed security appliance was the most cost/effective solution for our mission critical gateway to our Physician members and Pharmacy partners. No other solution could deliver no single point of failure and hot/swap maintenance while consolidating several Firewall/VPN clusters, several IDS sensors and mail scanning under one uniformly managed platform at such an attractive price/performance point," said Ofer Weisberg, CTO of IT for Maccabi Healthcare

InTechnology plc is a EUR0.5billion pan European company, which distributes security appliances and software in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. "The market demand for Multi-Bladed Security Gateway Appliances is growing and is poised to challenge single function appliances. The BladeCenter/BladeFusion platform extends InTechnology's (formerly Allasso) extensive product portfolio and provides a unique advantage in this rapidly evolving market. Customers can enjoy significant cost reduction, better performance, a smaller form factor and the comfort of the IBM brand with back to back warranty and 24x7x4 support," said Colin MacAdam, commercial operations director of InTechnology's Security Division.