Forum Systems and PortWise Announce Partnership to Integrate Forum Systems XWall Web Services Firewall and PortWise 4.5 SSL VPN

May 25, 2006; 07:04 AM
Forum Systems and PortWise announced the successful integration of Forum Systems XWall Web Services Firewall with the PortWise 4.5 SSL VPN and available as a bundled solution. This partnership addresses the need for combined SSL traffic security with deep content inspection and security of XML documents exchanged by employee, partner, and consumer interactions within corporate applications and data across the Internet. Forum XWall is able to scan binary attachments embedded with XML documents that can carry viruses and malicious software undetected across corporate networks. XML will increasingly be used as a file format for office applications and as a standard for spreadsheets, presentations as well as databases.

Companies are deploying Secure Sockets Layer virtual private networks (SSL VPNs) to provide private and restricted remote access to corporate systems. While SSL VPNs are able to manage SSL traffic, these products are unable to enforce security policies on the actual content that is traveling within SSL tunnels. Malicious activity, access to unauthorized information and embedded viruses are effectively obscured within XML structured messages, More over, the use of Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) for business transactions requires first decrypting the network traffic in order to enforce message-level security policies. This level of deep content inspection, XML intrusion prevention and Web Services security is performed by the XML Firewall.

"PortWise recognizes that providing our customers with an integrated and secure way for users to connect to application and data resources goes hand in hand with the need to enforce perimeter policies that check the integrity of content and control access to exposed enterprise Web Services," said Kaushik Thakkar, vice president of Strategic Alliances and Business Development for PortWise. "Forum Systems XWall brings the required Web Services security functionality that our customers will need as they start to explore and actively use XML and Web Services."

"Over the last couple of years we have seen an assimilation of Web Services security into a wide range of IT infrastructure," said Walid Negm, vice president of Marketing for Forum Systems. "This partnership with PortWise is further proof that we're reaching a point where companies can't afford to operate without this type of message-level and transactional security. Our work with PortWise is a leading indicator that one day SSL and XML security will be merged."

"The hype around Web Services outpaced that of just about every technology we covered this year. SOA, XML, AJAX and Web 2.0 have not only created new ways for businesses to work together, but also new avenues for intruders to gain access to your data and systems," said Mike Lee, editor of Network Computing. "Forum XWall is one of the few SOA security products that fight unnecessary complexity."

Forum XWall(TM) Web Services Firewall was recently awarded the "Most Outstanding Product of the Year" from the pool of 48 winners of Network Computing's Well-Connected Awards and also won "Best XML Firewall" in the Security category. Forum XWall is the first and only standalone Web Services firewall with XML Intrusion Prevention and integrated Antivirus SOAP attachment scanning. Forum XWall is unique because it installs in minutes and allows organizations to confidently move ahead with production deployments of SOA and AJAX applications while reducing risk. It is also the only product that can enforce governance policies, leveraging Forum's policy anticipation technology that is able to evade threats and adjust policies accordingly.

PortWise 4.5 is a comprehensive, integrated, and completely secure software platform for identity and access management. PortWise 4.5 enables enterprises to create secure connections to employees for remote access, to business partners for online business relationships, and to customers for secure transactions.

About Forum Systems

Trustworthy, ubiquitous and robust Web Services can only be achieved by combining security controls that are proactive, always on and systematic. Forum Seamless Security Solutions Architecture (Forum S3A(TM)) is an adaptive approach to building security minded service-oriented applications and data-level networks using life-cycle solutions including vulnerability management, testing systems, firewalls and gateways. Forum products are available as software, PCI-card and appliance options and comply with government requirements including CheckPoint OPSEC Certification, FIPS Certification, Common Criteria EAL 4+ (in process) and JITC DoD PKI Certification. Forum Systems is an active a member of OASIS and WS-I helping mature standards such as WS-I Basic Profiles, SAML and WS-Security. Customers can benefit from Forum technology that is bundled with market-leading products: Microsoft ISA Server 2004, NetContinuum NC-1000 WSE, Crossbeam Systems, Breach Security and Network Engines NS6300X. For more information on adaptive solutions for Web Services security visit http://www.forumsys.com.

Forum Systems, Inc. is the Leader in Web Services and SOA Security(TM) infrastructure with a comprehensive suite of XML acceleration, trust management and threat protection solutions for the automated Web. Forum Systems' flexible hardware, software and embedded products make vibrant business communications possible by actively protecting XML data and Web Services across networks and business boundaries. Forum's products have been chosen by over 150 Fortune 1000 industry leaders and are winners of Network Computing Magazine's Well-Connected 2006 and 2004 Awards and Product of the Year 2004 Award, Network Computing Magazine's Editor's Choice 2003 Award, Network Magazine's Product of the Year 2003 Award and most recently "Most Outstanding Product of the Year 2006" Well-Connected Award by CMP Media. Forum XWall Web Services Firewall was also the industry's only XML Firewall selected by InfoWorld LEADERBOARD 2004. Visit Forum at http://www.forumsys.com/.

About PortWise:

PortWise provides a comprehensive, integrated and secure identity and access management software platform for the mobile enterprise, protecting the integrity of employee, partner, and end customer interactions with corporate applications and data across the Internet. PortWise empowers organizations to manage access to their application and data resources with strong authentication and in-depth device security. In a world ridden with identity theft and corporate espionage, PortWise protects over 430 organizations and six million users worldwide.