Crossbeam Launches Industry-First Certification Model for Integrating Security Applications in Large Network Environments
Share:
BOXBOROUGH, Mass., May 15 -- Crossbeam Systems®, Inc., the leader in Unified Threat Management (UTM) for the world's largest networks, today announced iBeam, a revolutionary new partner certification program that accelerates the testing cycle for independent software vendors (ISVs) by 90% and results in unprecedented choice and compatibility of security applications for customers running Crossbeam's UTM security switches.
Using carrier-class equipment in a highly flexible, interconnected test bed, iBeam is the industry's first testing environment that recreates the layered, core security architectures of large enterprise and service provider networks.
"iBeam provides our large enterprise and service provider customers with much faster access to security applications that have been tested and proven to work together in network environments that mimic their own," said Throop Wilder, co-founder and vice president of marketing at Crossbeam. "With the constant barrage of new threats and changing security requirements, this has become a considerable pain point for customers. iBeam addresses this by leveraging our years of experience deploying UTM in large environments and automating the process by which applications can be quickly incorporated into the network. iBeam also provides us with much tighter collaboration and integration with ISV partners, resulting in lower TCO for our customers."
iBeam's Integration and Certification Facility (ICF) enables 100% automation of ISV application configuration and testing, versus the industry norm of 10%-20%. It combines a team of dedicated engineers with a simple process and complete resources to ensure streamlined, quality-assured application integration for both ISVs and customers.
"iBeam combines automated testing in a core security environment that mirrors our customers' networks," said Steve Kelley, senior director, product management at Websense. "This combination will allow us to meet customer needs faster and help assure interoperability in complex, multi-vendor architectures."
iBeam's common integration model ensures dependable certification of performance, high availability and Layer 2 and 3 network interoperability across all ISV applications.
"In addition to the value it brings to ISVs, iBeam delivers multiple critical benefits to end users," said Charles Kolodgy, research director at IDC. "iBeam allows customers to optimize the high performance and availability potential of Crossbeam's UTM platform across each ISV application, while ultimately opening the door to more application choice."
Core elements of the iBeam certification program include:
o Software development kit and complete documentation for porting
applications to Crossbeam platforms
o Automated system for configuring and running certification tests
o Lab for scalability testing, certification and troubleshooting
o Configuration management system for storage and retrieval of test
configurations and certification snapshots
o ISV Web portal for access to partner resources and the remote lab
o Dedicated business managers and partner engineers committed to ISV
certification efforts
o Life cycle process with well-defined stages
"Crossbeam's ISV partners are critical to our success, and as multi- function environments take hold, it's become clear that the industry needs a new model for streamlined application integration," added Wilder. "iBeam creates a best practices model for frictionless partnering that will drive global business opportunities for both Crossbeam and its ISVs."
Crossbeam Systems UTM platforms are highly resilient and support best-of- breed applications, including firewall, anti-virus, content management and IDS/IPS. Crossbeam UTM solutions couple best-in-class security applications with high-performance, purpose-built network security hardware. The end result is massive appliance consolidation, eliminating up to 100 separate devices per Crossbeam security switch, and the ability to build defense-in-depth infrastructures at a reasonable cost.
All of Crossbeam's UTM solutions provide best-of-breed protection of networks from leading established vendors such as Check Point, IBM Internet Security Systems, Trend Micro, Websense and Sourcefire, as well as emerging leaders like Imperva, Forum, Webscreen and NeoTip.
The iBeam ISV certification program is currently in a controlled availability phase, with full access to begin in July 2007. For more information, please send an email to: partners@crossbeamsys.com.
About Crossbeam Systems
Crossbeam Systems secures the world's largest networks with its pioneering best-of-breed Unified Threat Management (UTM) solutions. The company has tailored security solutions for global corporations, carrier networks and small to medium-sized enterprises. Founded in early 2000 and led by senior executives from Bay Networks, Cisco, Nortel/Wellfleet and Alcatel, Crossbeam is headquartered in Boxborough, Massachusetts, USA, and has offices in Europe and Asia Pacific. The company is backed by top-tier investors, including Focus Ventures, Tudor Ventures, Matrix Partners, North Bridge Venture Partners, Commonwealth Capital Venture Partners, Intel Capital and Charles River Ventures. More information is available at www.crossbeamsystems.com/.
Source: Crossbeam Systems, Inc.
CONTACT: Throop Wilder of Crossbeam Systems, 978-318-7524, throop@crossbeamsystems.com
Web site: www.crossbeamsystems.com/ www.daviesmurphy.com/
