MCI WorldCom Advanced Networks Introduces Suite of Fully-Managed Network Security Solutions
Offerings Improve Network Security While Reducing Costs and
Technology Risks for Companies
COLUMBUS, Ohio, February 22, 1999
- MCI WorldCom Advanced Networks today announced a comprehensive suite
of managed security solutions that allow companies to improve network
security, reduce information technology costs and integrate network and
security services together. The fully managed suite of network security
solutions includes: authentication services; managed and turnkey
firewalls; network assessment; and security training programs.
Leveraging the combined assets of recent MCI WorldCom acquisitions,
MCI WorldCom Advanced Networks' managed security solutions offer
unparalleled expertise in network security, systems integration and
software development; a fully equipped Security Operations Center; and
24 x 7 technical service and support for proactive monitoring and quick
problem resolution.
"We offer companies best-of-breed security solutions tailored
to meet their specific needs, locally and globally," said Jason
Comstock, group manager, security and dedicated VPN services, MCI
WorldCom Advanced Networks. "We have found an increasing number of
customers who want to improve their network security especially as more
companies migrate to Internet-based solutions. By integrating best
practice security solutions with expert managed services we are able to
help corporations cost effectively maximize business performance and
reduce security risks."
According to Forrester Research, most companies are under investing
in security protection. Forrester found that despite average revenues
in excess of $1 billion, more than 40 percent of Fortune 1,000
companies spend less than $1 million per year on security. Some
industry experts have estimated that more than half of all corporate
security attacks are successful.
MCI WorldCom Advanced Networks' security product line allows
corporate information technology managers to secure their networks
through customized solutions, off-load the cost and security expertise
and still allow them to maintain control over their company's
security systems. MCI WorldCom Advanced Networks' security
offerings consist of the following five product areas:
Authentication Services
Authentication services enable remote access and virtual private
networking (VPN) customers to provide secure communication for remote
and traveling employees. Through verification of a user's name and
password, MCI WorldCom Advanced Networks' Authentication Services
allow remote users to securely connect to their corporate Intranet. The
company offers the best in strong user authentication solutions,
including ACE/Server and SecurID tokens from market leader Security
Dynamics and SafeWord server and tokens from Secure Computing. Security
Dynamics' and Secure Computing's strong, two-factor user
authentication technology prevents unauthorized users from logging onto
the corporate network. Using dynamic password technology, each user is
identified with a personal identification number (PIN) and one-time-use
code.
Managed Firewalls: InterManage
InterManage is a fully managed, value-added firewall solution
available worldwide. Designed to enhance enterprise network security,
InterManage prevents break-ins, eavesdropping and tampering with
sensitive company information while eliminating the burden of firewall
administration and management. Eliminating single points of failure,
InterManage is the only fully managed network security solution that
provides companies with first-class administration, comprehensive
reporting and proactive monitoring all in one package.
InterManage is ideal for companies requiring controlled Internet
access and firewalls creating Extranets; hosted firewalls in front of
servers in Web farms; firewalls between servers and back-end databases;
VPN plus hosted or customer premise firewalls; and hosted firewalls
connecting frame relay to the Internet. The service utilizes either MCI
WorldCom Advanced Networks' internally developed InterLock firewall
or Check Point Firewall-1 for SUN Sparc/Solaris.
Turnkey Firewalls: Check Point and InterLock
The company also offers turnkey firewalls for customers who prefer
to administer and manage their own firewalls, but require service and
support by security experts from MCI WorldCom Advanced Networks.
Customers can choose between Check Point's FireWall-1 or MCI
WorldCom Advanced Networks' InterLock firewall and have the option
of switching between the two based on their changing security needs.
Through the integration of FireWall-1 or InterLock, customers are
assured of the highest level of security. Serving as a "security
guard" between two or more networks, FireWall-1 and InterLock scan
data as it attempts to move between networks, such as the public
Internet and MCI WorldCom Advanced Networks' global IP network.
Network Assessment: SecureSweep
SecureSweep is a fully managed network scanning service that enables
corporations to strengthen the security and integrity of their
enterprise networks. It provides periodic network scanning that
simulates realistic attacks on a network, allowing vulnerabilities to
be corrected before security is breached. Using a multi-vendor
approach, SecureSweep performs multiple scans, provides detailed
vulnerability reports, and recommends corrective actions to quickly
mitigate network security risks. SecureSweep utilizes Internet Security
System's (ISS) Internet Scanner software. Secure Sweep is available
on an annual subscription basis with packages including one, two, four,
or 12 site scans of up to five hosts on the same network-accessible
segment.
Security Training
MCI WorldCom Advanced Networks offers InterLock training in-house
and is the only Check Point Premiere Partner to offer certification
training on FireWall-1. The company provides practical hands-on Check
Point FireWall-1 training, teaching overall Internet and Intranet
security concepts. Hosted at the company's fully equipped facility,
the training provides an overview of firewall technologies and explains
FireWall-1's product structure and security implementation.
Simulating a corporate environment, participants install FireWall-1 on
a UNIX or NT System and configure an enterprise-wide security policy
using FireWall-1's Graphical User Interface (GUI). The training
covers multiple aspects of security including access control,
authentication and encryption.
About MCI WorldCom Advanced Networks
MCI WorldCom Advanced Networks provides more than 3,300 customers
with complete, fully integrated, Internet, Intranet and Extranet
solutions in 114 countries. Additional information on MCI WorldCom
Advanced Networks can be found at http://www.wcom.net.
MCI WorldCom is a global communications company with revenue of more
than $30 billion and established operations in over 65 countries
encompassing the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions. MCI
WorldCom is a premier provider of facilities-based and fully integrated
local, long distance, international and Internet services. MCI
WorldCom's global networks, including its state-of-the-art
pan-European network and transoceanic cable systems, provide end-to-end
high-capacity connectivity to more than 38,000 buildings worldwide. MCI
WorldCom is traded on the NASDAQ under WCOM. For more information on
MCI WorldCom, visit the World Wide Web at
http://www.mciworldcom.com
.
Contact:
Janet Brumfield
MCI WorldCom Advanced Networks (614) 723-1060
Laura Carrithers
Miller/Shandwick (617) 351-4154
