Nortel Enhances Award-Winning Solution for Network Access Control

Secure Network Access 2.0 Provides Open, Flexible Network Protection

TORONTO – Nortel* [NYSE/TSX: NT ] has enhanced its award-winning solution for network access control (NAC), adding open, flexible protection to its intelligent, automated network access and security offering for IT managers battling the rising threat of computer viruses, worms and other malware.

Available immediately worldwide, Nortel Secure Network Access 2.0 (SNA 2.0) adds new enforcement modes that enable NAC implementation and management across VoIP, Unified Communications and data environments from Nortel, Cisco, HP and others. This gives IT managers multiple deployment options for greater flexibility and protects existing investments.

The new enforcement modes – based on the 802.1X and SNMP standards – supplement existing support for DHCP and Nortel’s SSCP protocol to provide the multi-vendor capability.

“Investment protection and flexibility are key attributes in an environment like education where budget dollars are hard to come by,” said Jeff Klock, senior network specialist, technical and information services for the Durham District School Board (Whitby, Ontario), which has successfully completed a beta test of Nortel’s SNA 2.0. “We were able to confirm that this solution can be scaled and implemented with ease and without network redesign or new switching equipment.”

Nortel’s SNA 2.0 solution also adds seamless integration with Microsoft* Network Access Protection (NAP) even before upgrading to Windows* Server 2008. This makes it possible to extend granular security policies to devices throughout an enterprise, including IP phones, printers and other non-interactive devices. It also supplements Windows with support for Linux and Mac environments.

“The on-going and unpredictable nature of new viruses and other harmful intrusions makes flexible secure networking solutions absolutely critical,” said Manlio Vecchiet, director, Windows Server marketing, Microsoft. “The integration of Microsoft’s NAP with Nortel’s Secure Network Access gives businesses a strong tool to address that need.”

“As companies continue migrating to Unified Communications for the increased competitive advantage this can provide, they need choices designed to address their unique network and information security needs,” said Aziz Khadbai, vice president and general manager, Converged Data Networks, Nortel. “Secure Network Access is a true, open solution that greatly simplifies network access and protection. It doesn’t tie companies down to a single vendor or proprietary approach. It gives network managers greater choice and greater flexibility. And it can be the difference between a secure network and dealing with the consequences.”

Nortel’s SNA 2.0 solution authenticates user identity, granting access only to trusted users. Access is role-based, limiting users to information and applications authorized for their specific roles – employee, contractor or guest, for example.

Further protection is provided by Nortel’s Health Agent, based on Nortel VPN Tunnel Guard technology and compatible with hundreds of personal firewall, anti-virus and other applications from more than 70 security solutions providers.

Nortel Health Agent checks devices for anti-virus software, threat protection and application revision levels, and denies network access to devices not in compliance with security policies. Integration with Lumension Security’s PatchLink Update can simplify resolution of compliance issues.

“PatchLink Update helps address compliance issues by adding another critical layer of security,” said Rich Hlavka, senior vice president, business development, Lumension Security. “Integrating these solutions automatically brings non-compliant operating system and application software up to corporate standards, a critical part of maintaining a secure environment.”

The complete SNA 2.0 solution features Nortel’s Secure Network Access Switch Series including the new SNAS 4070 with enhanced, enterprise-class scalability. SNAS 4070 supports as many as 6,000 concurrent end points in a single system or more than 23,000 in a clustered configuration. As verified in independent testing by The Tolly Group **, Nortel’s SNAS Series provides highly flexible and scalable deployment, investment protection, NAP integration, a broad range of device support and up to 63 percent less energy consumption than the comparable solution from the leading competitor.

About Nortel

Nortel is a recognized leader in delivering communications capabilities that make the promise of Business Made Simple a reality for our customers. Our next-generation technologies, for both service provider and enterprise networks, support multimedia and business-critical applications. Nortel’s technologies are designed to help eliminate today’s barriers to efficiency, speed and performance by simplifying networks and connecting people to the information they need, when they need it. Nortel does business in more than 150 countries around the world. For more information, visit Nortel on the Web at www.nortel.com . For the latest Nortel news, visit www.nortel.com/news .

Certain statements in this press release may contain words such as “could”, “expects”, “may”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “targets”, “envisions”, “seeks” and other similar language and are considered forward-looking statements or information under applicable securities legislation. These statements are based on Nortel’s current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the operating environment, economies and markets in which Nortel operates. These statements are subject to important assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict and the actual outcome may be materially different from those contemplated in forward-looking statements. For additional information with respect to certain of these and other factors, see Nortel’s Annual Report on Form10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other securities filings with the SEC. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Nortel disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

*Nortel, the Nortel logo and the Globemark are trademarks of Nortel Networks. Other product and service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners. Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.