Montreal, April 7, 2010 — Concordia University is pleased to announce today the donation of a comprehensive network security solution valued at more than $400,000 from Cisco Canada to Concordia's Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science. The solution will be located in the new Cisco Network Security Laboratory at the Concordia Institute for Information Systems Engineering (CIISE).

Cisco's contribution will make it possible for CIISE students to gain practical experience by working in a dedicated space that houses leading-edge equipment and software. The Cisco security solution includes a combination of innovative security appliances and integrated network security, such as a virtual private network, a firewall, remote-workforce security, intrusion prevention and advanced access control. It also includes integrated physical security, Internet Protocol surveillance and emergency-notification systems.

Nitin Kawale, president of Cisco Canada, said, "Concordia is well recognized for deploying innovative technologies that enhance operations, campus communications and learning opportunities. We are pleased to extend our long-standing partnership with Concordia by providing this state-of-the-art security lab to deliver hands-on training opportunities for students. Network and IP-based physical security is a crucial and integral part of any IT organization. As networks increasingly become borderless, IT security skills will be an advantage in a competitive job market."

Concordia President and Vice-Chancellor Judith Woodsworth said, "We value Cisco's continued support of Concordia. This contribution is timely because of increasing network security threats posed by advances that include social media. I'm delighted to be able to provide our CIISE students with a lab in which they can research and find viable solutions to deal with these issues."