Cisco Systems and Trend Micro on Monday unveiled a new collaboration to deliver comprehensive network worm and virus prevention services that help protect networked businesses.
The deal extends the relationship the two vendors previously established in the Cisco Network Admission Control (NAC) program. The latest effort calls for the integration of Cisco network infrastructure and security systems with Trend Micro's worm and virus technologies, vulnerability assessment and realtime outbreak-prevention capabilities.
Under the terms of the deal, Cisco will integrate Trend Micro's network worm and virus signatures with the Cisco Intrusion Detection System (IDS) software deployed in Cisco IOS Software-based routers, Cisco Catalyst switches and network security appliances. The first of the newly integrated devices is scheduled to be available to channel partners by Sept. 1.
According to Tom Russell, director of the VPN and security products group at Cisco, San Jose, Calif., the deal marks a necessary expansion of the NAC program to solve current worm and virus threats. Russell cited the recent Sasser outbreak as the kind of network worm that the partnership aims to prevent.
"This gives Cisco's security partners more services to act as a trusted adviser to help customers of all types and sizes more effectively defend their business processes against the most dangerous of threats," Russell said. "The ability to help customers establish security policies across the entire network infrastructure is a powerful opportunity for our resellers."
Dan Glessner, senior director of North American marketing at Trend Micro, Cupertino, Calif., said the partnership also will benefit Trend Micro resellers since it will enable them to peddle the newly enhanced Cisco products on top of the solutions they're already delivering. "This relationship is about deep product integration that will provide system-level benefits to customers and translate into payback for all of our resellers," he said. "With this kind of expanded offering, it will be easier for [partners] to get a better return on the investment they've made in Trend Micro."
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