IBM Internet Security Systems Accelerates Network Performance With New Intrusion Prevention Appliance

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today unveiled an intrusion prevention appliance that is designed to transmit and protect network traffic at core network speeds. The new Proventia Network Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) GX6116 supports throughput of up to fifteen gigabits per second (Gbps) with preemptive protection for up to six Gbps of network traffic. The appliance is designed to operate at the network core and meet the needs of large enterprise or carrier deployments. By adding the Proventia Network IPS GX6116 to its Internet Security Systems (ISS) product line, IBM offers comprehensive, ahead-of-the-threat protection for the various layers of an enterprise network.

The new appliance further strengthens IBM’s roster of technology and services dedicated to helping clients address IT Governance and Risk Management. This initiative consists of new technologies and services designed to help clients mitigate risk and enable effective IT governance in response to the rising complexity of the security threat landscape and increasing regulatory compliance demands.


Being in such a targeted industry as financial services, we must take all necessary precautions to ensure that our customers’ sensitive data is not compromised,“ said Henry Gillard, a member of the Computer Incident Response Team at banking and payment technologies company, Metavante. ”The Proventia Network IPS GX6116 has provided us with a powerful means of bolstering our security posture by protecting traffic at the core of our network without sacrificing the performance of our mission-critical business applications"

High-performance applications such as Internet telephony that operate at the network core require security solutions capable of delivering high throughput, maximum scalability and low latency. Proventia Network IPS GX6116 is designed to deliver on all three fronts with:


Fifteen gigabit per second (Gbps) throughput
Six gigabit per second (Gbps) inspection
Protection across eight network segments
Configurable latency
Protection at very high network speeds allows companies to implement security at the network core without impacting business and network performance. By protecting across eight network segments, IBM ISS surpasses the network protection capabilities of competitive solutions. This allows for maximum scalability and high ROI for security investments by decreasing the number of appliances enterprises need to purchase to achieve optimum protection. Configurable latency puts network administrators in control of performance and acceptable levels of risk for their enterprise, as opposed to being confined by pre-determined settings.
Proventia Network IPS GX6116 is designed to exceed the demanding requirements of the network core through a custom-built architecture featuring a network processing unit (NPU) tailored for high-speed processing of network packets. This architecture allows the Proventia Network IPS GX6116 to split the tasks of processing the flow of data from the task of inspecting that data, dramatically increasing the performance efficiency of preemptive network protection.

In addition to meeting the needs of large enterprises, the GX6116 also bolsters IBM ISS’ ability to protect next-generation telecommunications networks, cellular IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) backbone networks, VoIP deployments and hosting environments by leveraging IBM ISS’ protocol analysis technology.

IBM’s Proventia portfolio is part of an integrated and unified security platform. The IBM Internet Security Systems product line integrates through a centralized management console, IBM Proventia Management SiteProtector™, to maximize protection and simplify management. The Proventia portfolio also integrates with the IBM Tivoli service management portfolio for an end-to-end secure infrastructure.

Through its Proventia protection platform, IBM ISS provides multi-layered protection for enterprises from network to host. By infusing products with security intelligence from the IBM Internet Security Systems X-Force® research and development team and its unique IBM Virtual Patch® technology, IBM security solutions are designed to protect customers before their business assets are impacted by online intrusions.

Proventia Network IPS GX6116 is scheduled to be available by the end of Q2. For further information on IBM ISS intrusion prevention technology, go to: http://iss.net/products/Proventia_Network_Intrusion_Prevention_System/product_main_page.html

For further details on IBM’s activities at Interop Las Vegas, please visit Booth #810 or go to www.iss.net/2007/interop.

Further details on IBM’s IT Governance & Risk Management initiative can be found at http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/presskit/21544.wss.

About IBM Internet Security Systems

IBM Internet Security Systems is the trusted security advisor to thousands of the world’s leading businesses and governments, providing preemptive protection for networks, desktops and servers. An established leader in security since 1994, the IBM Proventia® integrated security platform is designed to automatically protect against both known and unknown threats, helping to keep networks up and running and shielding customers from online attacks before they impact business assets. IBM Internet Security Systems products and services are based on the proactive security intelligence of its X-Force® research and development team -- the unequivocal world authority in vulnerability and threat research. The Internet Security Systems product line is also complemented by comprehensive Managed Security Services and Professional Security Services. For more information, visit the Internet Security Systems Web site at www.iss.net or call 800-776-2362.