March 8, 2007
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
Sumitomo Electric System Solutions Co., Ltd.
NETMARKS INC.
"ManagementCore IT Asset Management & Quarantine System"
gains "Cisco Compatible" approval from Cisco
- Compatibility with Cisco network equipment allows implementation of
highly practical quarantine systems -
"ManagementCore IT Asset Management & Quarantine System", a network quarantine system jointly developed by Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (Osaka; President & CEO: Masayoshi Matsumoto; "Sumitomo Electric Industries"), Sumitomo Electric System Solutions Co., Ltd. (Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; President: Tsunehiro Uchida; "SSS") and NETMARKS INC. (1-3-12 Moto-Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Atsushi Ohashi; "NETMARKS") and released in September 2006, recently gained "Cisco Compatible" approval from Cisco Systems, Inc. (hereafter "Cisco") as being compatible with Cisco's NAC (Network Admission Control)*1 Phase 2 technology.
Recent years have seen countless incidents involving the leakage of information from company PCs, and the necessity and importance of systems for IT asset management and for ensuring compliance with security policies as a response to the introduction of a Japanese version of the SOX Act, is growing.
Sumitomo Electric Industries and SSS began marketing a "ManagementCore IT Asset Management System" in July 2003, offering an integrated IT asset management environment allowing the management of everything from network equipment to servers, centering on the management of company PCs. "ManagementCore IT Asset Management System" allows operation logging and external device management and its functions can be expanded by the addition of modules. "ManagementCore IT Asset Management & Quarantine System", with the new quarantine module, was released in September 2006, and ensures the soundness of company PC environments by working with network equipment (authentication switches).
"ManagementCore IT Asset Management System" is the second NAC Phase 2-compatible system and the first system configuration incorporating the HCAP (Host Credential Authorization Protocol) protocol in Japan to receive "Cisco Compatible" approval.
Sales of the product will be handled chiefly by NETMARKS, which will provide full implementation support.
"We welcome the launch of an NAC-compatible version of ManagementCore by Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric System Solutions Co., Ltd. and NETMARKS INC.. We hope that closer coordination between the solutions provided by these three companies and ourselves will enable us to provide secure network environments to even more customers," says Toshihiko Yamato, CTO/CSO and Executive Director of Marketing & Engineering for Cisco Systems K.K.
The partners expect to sell "ManagementCore IT Asset Management & Quarantine System" to around 20 companies (equivalent to 100,000 clients) in 2007. License prices begin at \4000/user + a server license fee of \1,000,000 for the asset management module plus quarantine option. (Prices do not include server and network equipment costs.)
The ManagementCore system will be on show at the SSS and NETMARKS booths for the "4th Information Security Expo", which is to be held from Wednesday May 16 to Friday May 18, at the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition center.
*1: NAC (Network Admission Control) is one of the core technologies of Cisco's next-generation network security initiative, "Cisco Self-Defending Network Initiative".
Appendix
Features of "ManagementCore IT Asset Management & Quarantine System"
(1) Facilitates the creation of quarantine systems combining tight security with high operability
The system allows the creation of highly operable strong and secure networks that automatically exclude unauthorized PCs and PCs that infringe their security policy using NAC, and offer the high operability assured by ManagementCore. When a client PC connects to the network, the system implements a terminal quarantine examination, checking the versions of OS security patches and anti-virus software pattern files and, if necessary, isolates the client from the network and invites the user to take any necessary remedial measures. By isolating any PC that infringes network policy from the network, inviting the user to take appropriate remedial measures and offering guidance on repair procedures, the system supports rapid restoration of the client PC to working order.
If any major policy changes are to be implemented, the product allows prior verification through simulations of the results of quarantine operations on the server side, making it possible to take into account the impact on the actual network environment. This minimizes the risk that business will have to be suspended and allows the creation of quarantine systems with high operability.
(2) Allows the implementation of systems with a high level of security
The system is also able to prevent the startup of prohibited programs such as Winny and restrict the use of USB memory, allowing the implementation of systems with a high level of security that are capable of responding flexibly to corporate security policy.
About ManagementCore
ManagementCore is a software package that comprises the three key functions of network management - configuration management, fault management and performance management - together with a range of optional functions. It also acts as a general-purpose management platform, allowing the development of a range of management systems to suit customer needs, including the management not only of networks but also of fiber optic trunk cable management and ADSL equipment. In 1991, Sumitomo Electric Industries launched "Dr_Net", a network management system developed entirely in-house. In 1997, Sumitomo Electric Industries went on to release ManagementCore, as the embodiment of all its experience and track record in this area. The system has been adopted by many major business enterprises and service providers.
*All brand names and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
*Prices and start dates for shipment (services) may change without notice.
[Press contact]
Market Communication Department NETMARKS INC.
Tel: +81-3-3423-5782 E-Mail: press@netmarks.co.jp
