Hitachi Cable recently confirmed the interoperability between its "Apresia"*1 authentication switch and "ManagementCore IT Asset Management System"*2, the IT asset management software provided by Sumitomo Electric System Solutions Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; President: Tsunehiro Uchida; referred to as SSS hereafter). This strengthens the line of PC quarantine LAN solutions designed to prevent virus infections of corporate networks from notebook PCs carried in from outside the company. At the same time, SSS will join the "EnSEC" Security Alliance Program *3, which Hitachi Cable promotes.

In recent years, awareness is growing about the security issues related to corporate data networks. This has led not only to precautions to protect corporate networks against external attacks, but also to measures to ensure the security of network connections from within the company, a domain previously considered secure, as insecure network environments can result in virus infections originating from PCs with inadequate security measures, information leaks by users not authorized to connect to the network, and unauthorized network use.

Under these circumstances, Hitachi Cable has been offering PC quarantine LAN solutions that incorporate Apresia NA (Network Authentication), a unique authenticating function of Apresia, in addition to the IEEE802.1X *4 international standard. To broaden its availability to more customers, Hitachi Cable is also expanding the interoperability of Apresia and quarantine systems and devices provided by other manufacturers to meet diverse needs.

As part of these activities, Hitachi Cable has confirmed the interoperability of Apresia and the PC quarantine function of "ManagementCore IT Asset Management System," the IT asset management software provided by SSS.

ManagementCore IT Asset Management System implements security management by monitoring application of patches*5 to PCs and the versions of the pattern files of antivirus software. Combining Apresia and ManagementCore IT Asset Management System makes it possible to detect the security policy compliance conditions in a PC when a user tries to connect the PC to the corporate network. When the PC does not comply with the policy, it is isolated from the network and the problems and measures are indicated on the screen of the PC. In this manner, the user can solve the problem him- or herself by following the instructions displayed on the screen of the PC and can recover the connection to the corporate network quickly.

In this system, the system administrator can simulate and verify the security policy settings on the server before applying it in the corporate network environment. This helps to reduce system failures in modifying the settings and can reduce the risk of business stoppages.

Hitachi Cable hopes to further expand its share of Ethernet switches in the enterprise and service provider markets by strengthening its lines of security solutions through collaborations with partner companies and by utilizing its Apresia sales partner channels.

*1	Apresia is a registered trademark of Hitachi Cable, Ltd. in Japan.
*2	ManagementCore is a registered trademark of Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
*3	EnSEC stands for Enforcement for SEcure Connectivity. It is the security alliance program that Hitachi Cable promotes. The program responds to the diversifying security needs by expanding the combination of authentication switch Apresia and various devices, software, and services, including RADIUS servers and quarantine software. See [List of EnSEC Partners] below for information on EnSEC partner companies.
*4	IEEE802.1X is an authentication standard that IEEE (US Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) has stipulated for controlling the access to each port, primarily based on RADIUS authentication. It provides standard compatibility with the Windows 2000 and Windows XP operating systems.
*5	A patch is a file containing the changes made to the code of the OS or application software to repair problematic operations.

Please contact Sumitomo Electric System Solutions Co., Ltd. at the addresses below

Sumitomo Electric System Solutions Co., Ltd.

Network Systems Division
Tel:03-5273-7587

List of EnSEC Partners (As of May 14, 2007)

Classification Product name Company name PC Quarantine LAN Solution [For example, protection against viruses for connected terminals] ManagementCore IT Asset Management System Sumitomo Electric System Solutions Co., Ltd. EQWAC Quarantine System For Apresia DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD. Hidec Systems Co., Ltd. LANDesk Security Suite T.D.I.CO., LTD. NOSiDE Inventory Sub System 2005 NTT Data Corp. F-Secure Quarantine Controller Japan F-Secure Corporation SecureCube / PC Check (LAN-Blocker) NRI Secure Technologies, Ltd. NASCenter Net-ADM NURI Telecom Co., Ltd. iNetSec Inspection PFU LIMITED User Authentication Solutions Single Sign On (SSO) [Allows use of specific functions following one-time authentication.] Single Sign On for Apresia Kyosai Create Co., Ltd. NSAS Sony Broadband Solutions Corp. NET TIME Corporation Fingerprint authentication [Biometric user authentication based on user fingerprints] UB-Safe DDS, Inc. Signature authentication [Biometric authentication based on user-specific characteristics, such as handwriting] C-Sign Server/Client Cyber SIGN Japan Inc. Portable Phone authentication [Authentication based on portable phones] SecureCall THIRDNETWORKS. CO., LTD. Hardware authentication Authentication based on terminal hardware information] RegistGate NSI Co., Ltd ROUD Oki Network Integration Co., Ltd. Matrix authentication [Authentication based on icons or other patterns displayed in a matrix] WisePoint Authenticator Falcon System Consulting, Inc. RADIUS (authentication) server full flex EG Accense Technology, Inc. Enterpras Standard Stellar Craft, Inc. Steel-Belted RADIUS Funk Software, Inc. Terilogy Co., Ltd.

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ManagementCore is a registered trademark of Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. NOSiDE is a registered trademark of NTT Data Corp. SecureCube is a registered trademark of Nomura Research Institute, Ltd. NASCenter Net-ADM is a registered trademark of NURI Telecom Co., Ltd. iNetSec is a registered trademark of PFU LIMITED LANDesk is a registered trademark of LANDesk Software, Inc.