First of a Kind Threat Prevention Appliances Combine True Multi-Gigabit
Performance with Built-In and Unified Firewall, Intrusion Detection And
Vulnerability Assessment
Innovative Approach Allows for Attack Blocking, Not Just Detection
SAN JOSE, Calif. and AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
TippingPoint Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: TPTI) today announced its entry into
the network security industry with its UnityOne(TM) line of products, the
first Unified Network-Defense Appliances, which are advanced hardware-based
network security solutions that integrate and interlock firewall, intrusion
detection and vulnerability assessment functionality in a single high-speed
appliance. UnityOne Threat Prevention Appliances are complimented with a
comprehensive Security Management System and real-time threat inoculation
through the TippingPoint Threat Management Center. TippingPoint, based in
Austin, Texas, plans to deliver two appliances: UnityOne-2000 for large
enterprises and UnityOne-600 for small-medium enterprises. Both products are
being showcased this week at the annual RSA Conference in San Jose,
California.
Networks Faster, Hackers Smarter
Due to the constantly evolving nature of threats, today's CIOs and
security IT professionals have been faced with a no-win proposition when
trying to protect their enterprise networks from internal and external
threats. Increased bandwidth and network access points, combined with a more
sophisticated threat community and automated attack tools, has outstripped the
capabilities of existing network security products. Today's security
landscape is a collection of three disparate devices: firewalls, intrusion
detection systems (IDS) and vulnerability assessment scanners. This patchwork
of products typically come from three different vendors and offer limited
protection, usually only the detection of threats after they have already
manifested themselves within an enterprise.
"With the proliferation of a `new breed' of threats, we saw an enormous
market need for a new type of security solution that's smarter, faster and
adapts to this ever-changing hostile world," said John McHale, chairman and
CEO of TippingPoint. "Today, a single user can launch devastating attacks
that render an entire enterprise helpless. Therefore, we created the
necessary weapons to arm the CIO for a full scale line of defense against
attacks: a unified network defense system."
Tipping The Scales With A Unified Defense
The TippingPoint Unified Network-Defense System continually assesses the
network environment for vulnerabilities, detecting hostile activity, and
blocking malicious attacks before they can do damage. In addition, it will
continually refresh and harden signatures and algorithms for deployment in the
field. This will result in a high performance, proactive intrusion prevention
system.
The TippingPoint Unified Network-Defense System is comprised of three key
elements:
-- Threat Prevention Appliance
-- Security Management System
-- Threat Management Center
UnityOne Threat Prevention Appliances: Creating a Unified Front
UnityOne, the first true multi-gigabit Unified Network-Defense Appliances,
adapt to dynamic internal and external threats -- assessing, detecting and
preventing hostile attacks, whether denial-of-service, worms, trojans,
cyber-terrorists, disgruntled employees or in-house security breaches. The
UnityOne-2000 for large enterprises is powered up to 2.0 gigabits per second.
The UnityOne-600 for small-medium enterprise runs up to 600 megabits per
second.
The UnityOne Threat Prevention Appliances integrate three security systems
in one:
-- Firewall
-- Intrusion Detection
-- Vulnerability Assessment
"TippingPoint's unification of vulnerability assessment, IDS and
firewall/VPN is an innovative approach," said Christian Christiansen, program
VP, Internet Infrastructure and Security Software, IDC. "And layering this on
top of a security-specific processor takes it to an entirely new level."
The Benefits Of Unification -- Stronger, Simpler, Lower Cost
Significantly stronger security. The UnityOne platform goes far beyond
just simple integration of firewall, intrusion detection and vulnerability
assessment. UnityOne interlocks these functions so all three security
functions intercommunicate with each other and work in harmony to deliver new
and powerful network security capabilities. As a result, UnityOne blocks
substantially more hostile attacks (worms, trojans, buffer overflow, etc.)
compared to the platform of its nearest competitor.
Simpler to configure, install and manage. Through the built-in
vulnerability assessment functions, UnityOne can auto-tune itself based upon
the specific network configuration and available resources, eliminating hours
of manual configuration. In addition, auto-tuning helps dramatically lower
the number of false alerts. Finally, the UnityOne Security Management System
provides a single console for seamless management of all three integrated
functions.
Lower first-in costs and lower total-cost-of ownership. A typical
enterprise security platform comprised of three independent systems
(firewall, IDS, and vulnerability assessment purchased from separate vendors)
would cost between $120,000 and $200,000. In comparison, the cost of a
UnityOne-600 starts at $19,995. Total cost of ownership is lower still when
factoring in how much less administrative resources are required due to
auto-tuning and single console management capabilities.
"Patchwork quilts are nice ... when they are from your grandmother. But
when it comes to network security, a patchwork of disparate solutions is a
challenging proposition for today's CIOs and IT managers," said Mike Phillips,
CIO, Texas Tech University, Health and Sciences Center. "TippingPoint's
unified approach makes a lot of sense."
Threat Suppression Engine: The Enabling Technology
Tipping Point has developed the first Threat Suppression Engine, a custom
security-specific processor that provides stateful inspection, flow/session
re-assembly, unanchored searching and fragmented packets up to multi-gigabit
speeds.
"We looked at the problem and concluded that security solutions were
screaming for a security-specific processing engine," added McHale. "We've
had the luxury of building a solution from a clean sheet of paper, and to that
end, TippingPoint is thrilled to introduce our break-through approach to
security: high-speed appliances that assess, detect and block threats without
degrading network performance."
Security Management System Eases IT Burden
With the patchwork of today's disparate security point solutions, security
IT administrators are burdened with three separate management systems. The
UnityOne Security Management System integrates all of the security management
functions within a single management console. The management platform
performs centralized administration, events correlation and reporting for all
UnityOne Threat Prevention Appliances enterprise-wide. While comprehensive,
the Security Management System also offers a simple graphic user interface.
Threat Management Center: Real-Time Inoculations
The TippingPoint Threat Management Center is the central intelligence
bureau for all UnityOne Threat Prevention Appliances. The Threat Management
Center actively performs comprehensive global reconnaissance for emerging
threats and rapidly builds hardened signatures, algorithms and vaccinations.
The center offers two services: Web access, which allows IT administrators to
obtain the latest threat suppression signatures; and Digital Vaccine(TM), a
real-time signature and algorithm auto-update service. In addition,
TippingPoint security specialists perform ongoing trend detection and
analysis.
Pricing and Availability: Changing the Economics of Security
UnityOne delivers new security economics: the integration of a
collaborative security suite into a single appliance and management system
results in reduced first-in costs and total cost of ownership of up to 50% and
75%, respectively. Furthermore, increased return on investment is achieved
with improved corporate productivity due to reduced downtime costs.
TippingPoint's UnityOne is scheduled for availability in June 2002. The
UnityOne-2000 for large enterprise begins at $49,995. The UnityOne-600 for
small-medium enterprise begins at $19,995.
About TippingPoint Technologies
TippingPoint Technologies develops high speed unified network-defense
appliances that deliver highly reliable threat assessment, detection and
prevention for enterprises, government agencies and service providers. This
innovative approach offers customers an integrated, comprehensive and active
security solution with unrivaled economics, performance, protection,
scalability and manageability.
TippingPoint is based in Austin, Texas and can be contacted through its
Web site at http://www.tippingpoint.com or by telephone at 512-681-8000.
Forward-looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking
statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Although the
company believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking
statements are reasonable, the company can give no assurance that such
expectations or any of their forward-looking statements will prove to be
correct, and future results may differ from those discussed in this press
release. Important information regarding the factors that may affect the
company's future performance is included in its public reports that it files
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company disclaims any
intention or obligation to revise any forward-looking statements whether as a
result of new information, future event, change in expectations, conditions or
circumstances, or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date
hereof. The inclusion of any statement in this release does not constitute an
admission by the company or any other person that the events or circumstances
described in such statement are material.
SOURCE TippingPoint Technologies, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.tippingpoint.com
CONTACT:
Elisa Lippincott of TippingPoint
Technologies, +1-512-681-8442, or elisal@tippingpoint.com; or
Kari Bautsch of Porter Novelli, +1-512-241-2236, or
kari.bautsch@pnicg.com, for TippingPoint Technologies
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