SAN JOSE, Calif., March 5, 2001 - Cisco Systems, Inc., the leader in networking for the Internet, today announced the capability to manage large-scale VPN and security deployments through its new CiscoWorks2000 VPN/Security Management Solution.

Specifically geared to support the SAFE security blueprint for Cisco AVVID the Cisco Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data the CiscoWorks2000 VPN/Security Management Solution provides customers with a single, integrated set of Internet-enabled tools for successfully deploying, monitoring and troubleshooting security services and VPNs.

"In deploying our VPN network, maintaining current performance levels with minimal disruption was critical," said Paul Forbes, Network Engineer, Trimble Navigation. "The CiscoWorks2000 VPN/Security Management Solution enabled smooth deployment of our company s VPN and provided superior monitoring capabilities for optimal network performance. "

From a single management console, CiscoWorks2000 VPN/Security Management Solution allows users to monitor VPN deployments involving more than 20,000 remote access users and 2,000 remote site VPN networks. Combined with the CiscoWorks2000 Routed WAN (RWAN) and LAN Management Solutions, the CiscoWorks2000 VPN/Security Management Solution provides users with a comprehensive Internet-based management offering for safely engaging in eBusiness today.

"Comprehensive management is crucial to deploying and maintaining the advanced network services of Cisco AVVID," said John McCormack, Director, Cisco Systems. "The introduction of the CiscoWorks2000 VPN/Security Management Solution, and the addition of new RWAN and LAN Management capabilities demonstrates Cisco s ongoing commitment to providing customers with comprehensive management to address the rapidly evolving network infrastructure. "

The VPN/Security Management Solution, brings to the CiscoWorks2000 product line the combination of Cisco VPN Monitor, Resource Manager Essentials, and Cisco Secure Policy Manager. As a result, the solution can support security technologies like the Cisco Secure Intrusion Detection System (IDS) as well as VPN deployments involving the Cisco VPN 3000 Concentrator series, the Cisco Secure PIX Firewall family, the Cisco 7100 Series VPN Router and the Cisco 7200 Series Multi-service Router.

• The Cisco VPN Monitor, developed in partnership with Tivoli Systems, provides dash-board views of VPN resource performance and status. Customers can easily access VPN performance information such as tunnel throughput, active tunnel and session activity. Network administrators also have the ability to monitor IPSec VPNs as well as L2TP and PPTP VPNs, and IPSec based site-to-site and remote access VPNs.

• Resource Manager Essentials provides a graphical view of operational management conditions in the network. This tool lets users collect hardware and software configuration information, receive immediate notification of VPN and security issues for timely resolution via syslog analysis, and perform software upgrade planning for VPN capable devices.

• Cisco Secure Policy Manager lets customers define and deploy perimeter security policies on Cisco Secure PIX firewalls and provides notification when security threats are detected by the Cisco Secure IDS. Reporting and alerting capabilities to potential network intrusions enable customers to guarantee the highest levels of VPN and remote access security.

Both the CiscoWorks2000 RWAN and LAN Management Solutions also include management capabilities for managing wide-area and local-area network environments. Campus Manager also includes new scalability functionality for improved voice traffic support, letting administrators track up to 40,000 IP phone users.

Pricing and Availability

The CiscoWorks2000 VPN/Security Management Solution is available today for $7,995 USD. The CiscoWorks2000 RWAN Solution is available today for $14,995 USD. The CiscoWorks2000 LAN Management Solution is available today for $19,995 USD.