SAN JOSE, Calif., April 10, 2001 -- Cisco Systems, Inc. today announced two embedded security management applications, the Cisco PIXTM Device Manager (PDM), an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) that delivers robust reporting, monitoring and management tools for the market-leading Cisco PIX Firewall family, and Cisco VPN Device Manager (VDM), providing similar functionality and end-user benefits for Cisco VPN-enabled routers.
Complementing SAFE, a comprehensive security blueprint for Cisco AVVID (the Cisco Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data), PDM makes it even easier for security administrators to define and set security policies for PIX firewalls. Indeed, Cisco is providing customers an easy-to-use, visually pleasing and highly effective alternative to using command line interface (CLI) for directing and tracking PIX firewalls. The new GUI, contained in the upcoming Cisco PIX Firewall OS Version 6.0, also delivers cost benefits by significantly reducing management time while maximizing overall efficiency.
VDM, initially available for Cisco 7100 VPN and 7200 Multiservice routers, provides similar benefits for users deploying VPN services available in a future release of Cisco IOS. software.
These two graphical embedded management tools deliver and complement Cisco's overall security management strategy consisting of single-device management, multi-device management, such as CiscoWorks2000, and end-to-end policy-based management, such as Cisco Secure Policy Manager.
"The Cisco PIX Firewall family has always been known for its outstanding security, performance and reliability. PDM adds simplicity as a hallmark trait of this best-selling firewall," said Tom Russell, director of security solutions for Cisco. "The tools and wizards in PDM allow security professionals to focus on what they do best keeping hackers at bay. And with PDM's intuitive interface, the time from power-on to operational readiness is greatly reduced."
Building on the success of the award-winning Cisco VPN 3000 Concentrator series' embedded management, PDM and VDM offer reporting and monitoring tools that provide customers with real-time and historical insights. At a glance, administrators can view graphical reports summarizing network activity, resource utilization and event logs, allowing performance and trend analysis. PDM's logging and notification features also allow security staff to detect and interrupt suspicious activity.
The embedded design of these device managers enables Cisco customers to manage PIX firewalls or VPN services for Cisco 7100/7200 Series routers from almost any computer, regardless of their operating system (OS) a critical requirement for many e-Businesses. Similarly, they provide a consistent Web-based experience by working with most of today's popular browsers, including Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator.
"We've found that users appreciate the simple, embedded architecture," said Dennis Vogel, PIX product line manager. "With PDM, there is no application to install, and no plug-ins are required. An authorized network administrator now has the option of securely managing and monitoring their PIX via a Web browser."
In addition to PDM, Cisco PIX Firewall OS Version 6.0 offers several important enhancements for securing e-Business networks. Among them:
- PIX support for the recently announced Cisco Unified VPN Client Framework specification, enabling VPN connectivity between all desktop, laptop and personal digital assistant clients and any PIX firewall using PIX Firewall OS Version 6.0.
- PIX support for intrusion detection shunning capability, or the ability to selectively block network traffic that's been identified as suspicious by the Cisco Secure Intrusion Detection System (IDS).
- Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) support for the Microsoft Windows VPN client.
- Enhanced support for Skinny Client Control Protocol (SCCP) and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) voice over IP (VoIP) protocols.
Pricing and Availability
PIX Device Manager (PDM) will be available at no charge as part of Cisco PIX Firewall OS Version 6.0, which is scheduled for release this month. VPN Device Manager (VDM) will be available at no charge for users of a new version of Cisco IOS scheduled for release in spring 2001.
