February 6, 2007
ALAXALA Networks, Corp
ALAXALA Networks Corp. Achieves Interoperability with Microsoft Network Access Protection
ALAXALA Networks Corp. (referred to as “ALAXALA”) has achieved interoperability with Microsoft Network Access Protection (NAP), and ALAXALA’s AX2400S/3600S Series and AX1200S Series switch products
Network Access Protection is a policy enforcement technology built into the Windows Vista and Windows Server “Longhorn” operating systems that allows customers to better protect network assets from unhealthy computers by enforcing compliance with network health policies. Microsoft Network Access Protection technology is publicly available with Windows Vista, and available to select partners and customers with Beta 2 of Windows Server “Longhorn.”
Rising security threats in enterprise IT systems, which are caused by improper security settings on client PCs, inadequate or low level security patches of OS, etc, are contributing to the growing demand for authentication/quarantine solutions at the network level.
“By proving connectivity between our products and Windows Vista (client OS) and Windows Server “Longhorn” (Server OS) using Network Access Protection, ALAXALA aims to provide users with secure and safe networks,” said Hiroyuki Wada, President and CEO, ALAXALA Networks Corporation.
“Furthermore, by using quarantine technologies of Microsoft Network Access Protection in cooperation with functions provided by ALAXALA’s switch products such as IEEE802.1X authentication or network technologies of MAC VLAN, it becomes possible to block traffic from users violating security policies and achieve security management per user. The overall security of the enterprise information system can be enhanced dramatically,” Wada continued
Functions which were tested between the AX switches and Windows Vista and Windows Server “Longhorn” are:
- Cooperation of authentication/quarantine functions based on the IEEE802.1X protocol between Windows Vista and AX series switches (AX2400S/3600S and AX1200S)
- Cooperation of authentication/quarantine functions using MAC VLAN of AX series switches (AX2400S/3600S and AX1200S), which is to enable automatic allocation of an authenticated PC to VLAN and per-PC control of transmission (by making judgment whether or not it should be blocked) between VLANs
Mr. Koki Igarashi, Department Manager of the Server Platform Business Department at Microsoft Corp., welcomed ALAXALA’s achievement by giving the following comment: “In the era of ubiquitous networks, network access technologies including authentication and quarantine functions are very important, and we promote Network Access Protection as a tool for providing secure network accesses. It’s very significant that ALAXALA embodied our solutions in its use of network devices.”
Since September 2005, when ALAXALA announced its decision to support Network Access Protection technology,
ALAXALA has been promoting the application of Network Access Protection technology to its switch products and is committed to continue providing a new series of Network Access Protection-compliant switches starting with its AX6000 family. At this time, ALAXALA will be providing demonstrations on its connectivity tests with Windows Vista and Windows Server “Longhorn” according to the following schedule.
- 2/7 - 2/9/2007: NET&COM (demonstrated at the ALAXALA booth)
- 2/5 - 2/9/2007: RSA Conference 2007 in San Francisco (demonstrated at the Microsoft Network Access Protection Partners booth)
About ALAXALA Networks, Corp.
ALAXALA Networks Corp. is founded on its corporate philosophy of providing people around the world with secure networks that can be used comfortably and contributing to establishment of an information-rich communication society. ALAXALA is promoting the concept of Guaranteed Network to support information lifelines and provides backbone routers necessary for network constructions as well as services ranging from development/design, manufacturing, sales, to maintenance of switches.
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Contact for technical inquiry
Business Planning and Product Marketing Division, ALAXALA Networks Corp.
Shinkawasaki Mitsui Bldg West Tower.13F, 890 Kashimada, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa
212-0058, JAPAN
URL：http://www.alaxala.com/en/contact/form.html
Contact for press release
Kazushige Arai, Business Planning and Product Marketing Division, ALAXALA Networks Corp.
Shinkawasaki Mitsui Bldg West Tower, 13F, 890 Kashimada, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa,
212-0058, JAPAN
Phone: +81-44-549-1706
URL：http://www.alaxala.com/en/contact/form.html
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