Network Associates` nPO gives network performance the go

Reliable and secure network performance and communications is key for businesses in the current highly competitive economy. To ensure customers` needs are met, Network Associates has announced the availability of its new integrated solution for centralised management, visualisation and assurance of network performance and security across the enterprise - Network Performance Orchestrator (nPO).

"The cornerstone of the Sniffer Enterprise Management Architecture, the nPO solution is an end-to-end solution with extensive automation capabilities for enterprises that want to strategically instrument, analyse, manage and visualise their global network and security infrastructure, anywhere and anytime," says Christopher Bray, Network Associates regional director of sub-Saharan Africa.

"The nPO solution enables customers to be effective in optimising their network and application performance; detecting abnormal system activity and security flaws; tracking and reducing operational and capital expenses; and minimising the risk for human error on their network."

The current nPO solution consists of two key components, nPO Manager and nPO Visualizer, for centralised management and data visualisation of a customer`s global network. Enhancements to the solution in 2003 will build on security and application management.

nPO Manager is a turnkey appliance that allows businesses to significantly improve workflow processes and be more cost-efficient and reliable in running their network while minimising risk for human error. nPO Manager enables IT administrators to strategically manage their enterprise network from a centralised point anywhere in the world. Leveraging its browser-based capabilities, nPO Manager can monitor, manage and `connect to` an instrumentation of Sniffer Distributed appliances within any time zone. nPO provides centralised authentication capabilities, configuration management, profile management, resource management and alarm management while allowing for interoperability with third-party management solutions.

The nPO Visualizer appliance is easy to use with no data more than two clicks away, allowing organisations to further understand their network activity and intelligently determine cost-allocation and expense reduction. nPO Visualizer enables IT managers and administrators to produce over 40 short- and long-term reports on network performance issues, bandwidth utilisation, global statistics, top alarms and usage trends. Leveraging its browser-based capabilities, nPO Visualizer can automatically administer scheduled or on-demand reports, and immediately distribute these reports electronically to designated users, managers and executives within any city in the world.

"Our on-time delivery of the Network Performance Orchestrator solution to our customers demonstrates Network Associates` commitment to delivering technology leading, highly-reliable security and network management solutions," says Bray.

"The nPO solution was designed to provide customers with the new capability to centrally manage and improve workflow processes throughout their organisation from any city in the world. With the Network Performance Orchestrator solution, customers can now easily make intelligent operational and cost-reduction decisions based on network activity and usage reports so that, at the end of the day, they can be more effective in running their core business."