SANTA CLARA, Calif. and LOS ANGELES, Feb. 27, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Foundry Networks(r), Inc. (Nasdaq:FDRY), a performance and total solutions leader for end-to-end switching and routing, today announced that its Layer 2/3 10 gigabit Ethernet-ready switches deliver Network Access Protection (NAP) interoperability with Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista. Foundry(tm) will be promoting Windows Server 2008 interoperability and standards-based 802.1x security, as well as support of other key Microsoft products and initiatives at Microsoft's "Heroes Happen Here" launch event at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Foundry will be joining the worldwide launch and rollout of Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008, and SQL Server 2008 at the kickoff in Los Angeles on Feb. 27, 2008, as well as a following event in Washington, D.C. on March 25, 2008.
Foundry's FastIron(r) family of switches are now validated to operate in conjunction with Microsoft Windows-based clients and the Microsoft Network Policy Server (NPS) to manage policies that restrict unauthorized client access to network resources based on the health of the system, providing network administrators with an easy-to-manage security solution. By marrying 802.1x, a standardized security authentication method for IEEE 802-based network technologies, and sFlow(r), an industry standard technology for monitoring networks, as part of Foundry's IronShield(tm) 360 Security solution, customers of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista can significantly reduce deployment and operational costs when securing endpoint resources using NAP interoperability with Foundry switches. Network administrators have complete real-time visibility and accounting into the network enabling them to monitor individual user history, behavior patterns and network resource usage in order to thwart potential attacks. Joint customers of Microsoft and Foundry now have a standards-based tool for validating client health and securing network access without resorting to costly and potentially less effective proprietary networking technologies.
"Today's IT customers are looking for increased dependability, scalability and security features," said Ward Ralston, group technical product manager for Windows Server Marketing at Microsoft Corp. "With FastIron built on Windows Server 2008, customers can achieve a highly reliable infrastructure for their business-critical applications."
The integral component collectively interlocking this security solution is the Foundry IronShield 360 Security solution, which brings together open, interoperable and best-of-breed security solutions to complement a comprehensive suite of award-winning Foundry networking platforms. The IronShield 360 Security solution provides multiple levels of network security, both at the perimeter, inside the LAN, and in the data center. The foundation of IronShield 360 Security is a reliable, robust and high-performance architecture, with wire-speed switching, security, and advanced sFlow sensor support. The IronShield 360 Network Security model provides secure device, network and service protection to verify that all network resources are healthy and operating at maximum effectiveness.
"Together with Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista, Foundry's IronShield 360 Security solution is focused on providing our joint customers with the highest level of security for their networking environments," said Ezra Yosef, director of business development for Foundry Networks. "By delivering interoperability between Foundry switches, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista, customers have a complete NAP solution to protect their network users and resources from potential threats. This important milestone reaffirms Foundry's efforts to deliver on its network security and interoperability commitments."
For more information on the "Heroes Happen Here" launch, please visit www.microsoft.com/heroeshappenhere.
About Foundry Networks
Foundry Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:FDRY) is a leading provider of high-performance enterprise and service provider switching, routing, security and Web traffic management solutions, including Layer 2/3 LAN switches, Layer 3 Backbone switches, Layer 4-7 application switches, wireless LAN and access points, metro and core routers. Foundry's customers include the world's premier ISPs, metro service providers, and enterprises, including e-commerce sites, universities, entertainment, health and wellness, government, financial and manufacturing companies. For more information about the company and its products, call 1.888.TURBOLAN or visit www.foundrynet.com.
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