Macquarie University Gets Tough on Security with Nortel
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Unique Solution To Network Security For More Than 30,000 Students
SYDNEY, July 10 / -- Macquarie University, one of Australia's leading universities, has chosen a comprehensive network security solution from Nortel(x) (NYSE/TSX: NT) to protect its information infrastructure from internal and external threats.
The University made the decision to overhaul its security systems after an audit last year revealed multiple weaknesses in its existing infrastructure. The AU$1 million solution from Nortel and channel partner 3D Networks will replace multiple separate firewalls and ad-hoc security gateways with a network of secure routers connected to a central firewall for all incoming and outgoing traffic.
"Considering we support more than 30,000 students, all of whom have equal access to the network, we have the dual challenge of creating an environment that fosters experimentation and learning while protecting against unauthorised traffic originating from our users," says Peter Hole, infrastructure services manager, Macquarie University. "We also have a mandate to protect our intellectual property, both research-based and commercial. Macquarie is world renown as a research institution, and we store a large amount of sensitive research and commercially viable data on our network. With the technology from Nortel, we're protecting our reputation as much as our users."
Earlier this year Macquarie University issued a tender for a new security system with the requirement that it doesn't affect system availability, is highly scalable as the network expands, is quick to react to new threats, and can detect and react to damaging and non-damaging illegitimate traffic like music and video downloads.
"Nortel's solution was unique compared to the submissions we had from competing vendors," says Hole. "The solution is elegant in its simplicity. By placing a firewall at the network core rather than the edge and routing all traffic through the firewall, we're simultaneously protected from external and internal threats."
"Nortel and 3D Networks met all our requirements with a single integrated solution that was proven through a demonstration of its design in a live environment in Nortel's Sydney labs," says Hole.
Mark Stevens, president, Australia and New Zealand, Nortel, says, "Universities pose a particular security challenge that's not always easy to solve with traditional network equipment or off-the-shelf security products. Nortel's networks are designed with security as part of their DNA, meaning that security is fundamental to the way our products operate and interoperate together and with other networks as well. We're working closely with Macquarie University to implement the rigid security measures required in a tertiary education environment without adversely impacting the performance of the network itself or the quality of the end user experience."
Nortel's solution includes Ethernet Routing Switch 8600 and Nortel Switched Firewalls with Checkpoint security software pre-installed. Implementation started this month and is expected to be complete by September.
About Nortel
Nortel is a recognized leader in delivering communications capabilities that enhance the human experience, ignite and power global commerce, and secure and protect the world's most critical information. Our next-generation technologies, for both service providers and enterprises, span access and core networks, support multimedia and business-critical applications, and help eliminate today's barriers to efficiency, speed and performance by simplifying networks and connecting people with information. Nortel does business in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit Nortel on the Web at www.nortel.com. For the latest Nortel news, visit nortel.com/news.
(x) Nortel, the Nortel logo and the Globemark are trademarks of Nortel
Networks.
Source: Nortel
CONTACT:
Lorraine Cowper, Nortel,
61 2 8870 5625, lorraico@nortel.com;
Christie Blake, Nortel,
(978) 288-8439, christbl@nortel.com;
Guy Lerner,
Watterson Marketing Communications,
61 2 9437 6122,
guy.lerner@watterson.com.au
