HP ProCurve expands security portfolio with firewall & IPS solutions

Specifically, HP ProCurve is expanding its security portfolio, under the auspices of ProActive Defense, with the following new offerings:

• HP ProCurve Threat Management Services (TMS) zl Module: a multi-function security module for the 5400 and 8200 Series switches that represents HP ProCurve’s entry into the firewall and IPS markets
   
• HP ProCurve Manager Plus (PCM+) 3.0 network management software and plug-ins:
  • Network Immunity Manager (NIM) 2.0
  • Identity Driven Manager (IDM) 3.0
  • ProCurve Mobility Manager (PMM) 3.0
  
  
• Incorporation of wireless products acquired via Colubris Networks: Multi-Service Controller Series, RF Manager, Guest Management software

Benefits of the new offerings
Here’s what the new HP ProCurve security products deliver:

• Protection of networks, servers, and data in transit. The HP ProCurve TMS module is a multi-function security module that physically integrates into the HP ProCurve Switch 5400zl and 8212zl Series. TMS enables network administrators to compartmentalize department traffic and protect the network from malware, while providing secure remote access and site-to-site connectivity. It offers firewalling, intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and a virtual private network (VPN) concentrator – without the need for multiple modules or a separate box appliance. TMS also complements HP’s security offerings, and it is supported by the HP ProCurve Lifetime Warranty♦.
   
• Unified control and network visibility. The PCM+ 3.0 product suite is designed to help businesses of all sizes to secure and simplify network management, preventing security breaches by centrally managing user access to wired and wireless networks and resources.  PCM+ 3.0 is a secure Windows-based network management tool that allows administrators to configure, update, monitor, and troubleshoot HP ProCurve devices centrally. Also updated are the following plug-ins to PCM+ 3.0:
  • Network Immunity Manager 2.0 provides a rich toolset to manage internal network threat detection and response in a wired and wireless network environment. NIM also provides central management of the HP ProCurve Threat Management Services Module.
  • Identity Driven Manager 3.0 gives network administrators the ability to dynamically provision network access to meet business policies as users and devices connect to the network.
  • ProCurve Mobility Manager 3.0 simplifies management of wired and wireless networks by providing visualization capabilities to plan, deploy, manage, and monitor a wireless local area network (WLAN). PMM features a single-screen dashboard that visualizes predicted radio frequency (RF) coverage.
  
  
• Increased security in conjunction with lower costs. HP ProCurve enables this simultaneous boosting of security and reduction of costs in a number of ways:
  • By lowering the complexity (hence the costs) of installation, maintenance, and support.
  • By delivering standards-based solutions that can be upgraded and supplemented with best-of-breed partner solutions via the ProCurve ONE alliance program.
  • By providing fine-grain controls and affordable zoning, which enable planning based on risk/reward calculations.
  • Through reliable security solutions that can be installed with confidence, as backed by the industry-leading HP ProCurve Lifetime Warranty♦.

Other products
In addition to the HP ProCurve Threat Management Services Module introduction and the ProCurve Manager Plus 3.0 software suite update, the following products also are part of HP ProCurve’s enhanced security offerings:

• HP ProCurve RF Manager automatically and immediately blocks all unauthorized wireless 802.11 traffic without disrupting or reducing the performance of authorized communications. It eliminates time-consuming false-positive alerts and provides central management of security policies with the flexibility to customize using site-specific guidelines.
   
• HP ProCurve Guest Management software simplifies creation of guest accounts from any Microsoft Windows-based computer. Its intuitive user interface is designed to be used by receptionists and clerical staff with minimal training. It provides centralized, real-time management of visitor accounts and sessions for strong enforcement of security policies.
   
• HP ProCurve RF Planner, built on a unique RF propagation model, provides outstanding accuracy. This tool draws from a comprehensive knowledge base of RF characteristics for HP ProCurve MultiService Access Points, third-party equipment (client cards, access points, and directional antennas), and building materials. Open-air modeling capabilities facilitate the design of outdoor campus and municipal networks.
   
• HP ProCurve Multi-Service Controller series delivers high-performance wireless networking solutions. Scalable from branch offices to large organizations, the controllers deliver fast-roaming and high-speed hand-offs. The enhanced architecture scales from 802.11b to 802.11n without expensive controller upgrades. Robust identity- and roles-based user account profiles – as well as Virtual Service Communities (VSCs) with independently configurable quality of service (QoS), authentication, encryption, and FLAN support – deliver intelligence to the edge of the network.

Together, the new and enhanced security offerings represent the evolution of ProCurve’s multi-layered, holistic ProActive Defense security strategy. ProActive Defense is unique in its simultaneous and synergistic attention to both the “offense” (preemptive measures including comprehensive access control) and “defense” (including automated threat management) aspects of network security, within the framework of a trusted infrastructure.

For organizations of all sizes, the ProActive Defense strategy delivers a trusted network infrastructure that is immune to threats, controllable for appropriate use, and able to protect data and integrity for all users.

For more information on HP ProCurve’s enhanced ProActive Defense offerings, please visit Extending ProActive Defense.