Trend Micro supports Cisco Network Admission Control Program for protection against viruses, worms

SecureData, a member of the JSE-listed ERP.com Group, and the southern African distributor for Trend security software, today announced its support of the new Cisco Network Admission Control Program, which focuses on network-level verification of client security software to limit the potential damage to enterprise networks from such emerging threats as network-based worms and other mixed virus threats. As part of its support for the Cisco initiative, Trend Micro will be developing a specialised software component for its centralised desktop anti-virus solution, Trend Micro OfficeScan Corporate Edition.

For enterprises today, a single entrance of a worm, like "Lovgate.C" or "Sobig.E", into the network through an unprotected client often leads to infection, or re-infection, of the entire network. The ability to verify security status and control access of clients at the network level is advantageous in securing the infrastructure of the organisation.

Enabling end-point products, ie PCs, servers and PDAs, to communicate security information, such as Trend Micro anti-virus product status, the Cisco Network Admission Control program allows networks to restrict access of non-compliant devices to the rest of the network. Based on customer-defined policy and third-party software, Cisco network devices, such as access routers and switches, will decide and enforce the appropriate admission control decision to permit, deny, quarantine, or restrict.

"The success of the Cisco Network Admission Control program lies in part with leading anti-virus companies, like Trend Micro, who have helped define the requirements and architecture for this program," commented Charles H Giancarlo, senior vice-president and general manager of product development at Cisco Systems. "We see this collaborative effort as one that will help address a broad and growing concern among enterprise customers for better control of the costs from virus threats."

Trend Micro has licensed the Cisco Trust Agent, an endpoint software agent and key component of this program, and has plans to develop a software component for OfficeScan Corporate Edition to enable communication of client-level anti-virus with the Cisco network devices to help ensure only clients with the most up-to-date virus pattern files and anti-virus scan engines are allowed to connect to the enterprise network.

"Trend Micro is excited to be one of the first security providers to support Cisco's Network Admission Control program," stated Steve Chang, CEO and Chairman of Trend Micro, Inc. "Network-based security policy enforcement of desktop clients is one more preventive measure that enterprise customers can utilise as part of an overall security strategy, like Trend Micro Enterprise Protection Strategy. Through the efforts of leading companies like Cisco and Trend Micro, we can continue to offer proactive, policy-based security solutions at the network layer."

Trend Micro Enterprise Protection Strategy provides customers with a comprehensive approach to managing the impact from today's mixed threats to their productivity and their information through coordinated delivery of products, services and expertise throughout the entire outbreak lifecycle.

Steve Chang will be speaking today about Enterprise Protection Strategy and Trend Micro's involvement with the Cisco Network Admission Control program at an exclusive Webcast and teleconference event from the Cisco headquarters in San Jose, California.

The Cisco Network Admission Control program compliant software component for OfficeScan Corporate Edition is scheduled for availability in Q2 2004.