Symantec introduces its first plug-and-protect security appliance for Hong Kong SMEs and branch offices

Hong Kong -- March 8 2002 - Symantec, the world leader in Internet security, today introduced a new security product family, the Symantec Firewall/VPN Appliance, its first hardware-based offering for the Hong Kong market. The new products represent the first integrated small-office networking and security device to enable quick, easy, and secure interaction with the Internet.

Available in three models, the Symantec Firewall/VPN Appliance (models 100, 200 and 200R) combines firewall, VPN, networking and other capabilities in a single unit to meet the special needs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as well as remote and branch offices. The device can be deployed in minutes even by novice users and offers advanced security capabilities to identify and isolate online threats.

"SMEs, remote and branch offices are not immune to security and data integrity risks, in fact it has become a business and financial imperative to have secure, reliable Internet access which is easy to manage," said Barry Cioe, Director of Product Management Symantec, at the launch event in Hong Kong. "With its all-in-one functionality, SMEs, remote and branch offices can easily install the Symantec Firewall/VPN Appliance to create a high-speed local area network that enables secure access and interaction via the Internet with remote locations, business partners and corporate networks."

Each of the three devices includes a stateful inspection firewall, which provides a high level of network security by analysing information packets and their destinations. Model 100 offers an IPSec VPN solution along with a four-port 10/100 auto-sense network switch and one WAN port that provides direct connections for office PCs and network devices. Model 200 offers an eight-port 10/100 auto-sense network switch and load balancing between two WAN ports. Model 200R includes the same features as well as remote VPN clients with integrated personal firewall to protect remote workers from malicious attacks.

The devices also provide gateway-to-gateway VPN services to other IPSec Certified VPNs, and the VPN Global tunnel feature allows the administrator to selectively restrict all traffic down the VPN tunnel. Administrators can manage the devices from a local or central location.

Symantec's Firewall/VPN security appliance, with a combination of hardware, software and networking technologies, provides an all-in-one approach to simplify product selection, integration and ongoing support. According to IT research firm IDC, the worldwide market for such devices will total US$4 billion by 2005.

"The new Symantec Firewall/VPN appliance is the first in a series of hardware-based products Symantec plans to introduce in Hong Kong to enhance network security. These products are key components of Symantec Enterprise Security, which provides organisations of any size with the technology, global response and services necessary to manage information security," Cioe said.

Pricing and Availability
The Symantec Firewall/VPN Appliance will be available through Symantec's worldwide network of value-added resellers, distributors and systems integrators. Suggested prices are HK$3893, HK$7013 and HK$9353 for the Symantec Firewall/VPN 100, 200 and 200R, respectively. For further information, please visit http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/ or call (852) 2973 4438.

About Symantec
Symantec, the world leader in Internet security technology, provides a broad range of content and network security software and appliance solutions to individuals, enterprises and service providers. The company is a leading provider of client, gateway and server security solutions for virus protection, firewall and virtual private network, vulnerability management, intrusion detection, Internet content and e-mail filtering, remote management technologies and security services to enterprises and service providers around the world. Symantec's Norton brand of consumer security products is a leader in worldwide retail sales and industry awards. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Symantec has worldwide operations in 38 countries. For more information, please visit www.symantec.com.

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