Hitachi Cable, Ltd. has confirmed the interoperability of its Apresia*1 authentication switches and the Criston Precision*2 IT asset-management tool from Criston K.K. (headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo), thereby strengthening its lineup of PC quarantine LAN solutions for enterprise networks. With this announcement, Criston joins the EnSEC*3 security alliance program promoted by Hitachi Cable.

Awareness of security issues in relation to enterprise information networks has increased in recent years. In addition to efforts to safeguard against malicious attacks on a company's network originating from outside the network, the security of internal connections - an area previously regarded as secure - has emerged as a critical issue. Examples include the spread of viruses through inadequately secured PCs and other devices; information leaks through users not authorized to connect to the network; and inappropriate network use.

For these reasons, in addition to efforts to achieve certification under the IEEE 802.1X*4 international standard, Hitachi Cable provides PC quarantine LAN solutions based on Apresia's own AccessDefender*5 authentication function. AccessDefender authenticates multiple PC clients connected under the same desktop switch, enabling use of PC quarantine solutions on existing networks and controlling adoption costs. To ensure even more clients can access these solutions, Hitachi Cable is promoting compatibility with a wide range of needs, expanding the interoperability of the Apresia series with the quarantine systems and devices provided by various other companies.

As part of these efforts, by confirming the interoperability of the Apresia series with the Criston Precision IT asset-management tool from Criston, Hitachi Cable has added a new PC quarantine LAN solution to its product lineup.

Criston Precision combines in one package IT assets management, security patches, and safeguards against other vulnerabilities. In particular, its superior performance in ensuring the stable distribution of applications and security patches allows simultaneous management of PCs across multiple locations, regardless of connection speeds.

Linking Apresia's AccessDefender authentication function to Criston Precision's security-patch distribution function makes it possible to automate the task of keeping security patches current for software such as antivirus software and operating systems on all PCs connected to the enterprise network. If a PC fails to meet the enterprise's security policies, Apresia simply isolates it from the network, while Criston Precision automatically rectifies the issue, allowing the PC to reconnect to the network. Additionally, any software that fails to comply with security policies can be disconnected automatically when launched.

Hitachi Cable plans to further expand its share of the Ethernet switch market for enterprise and service providers by strengthening its lineup of network solutions, working with business partners, and drawing on the sales channels of its Apresia sales partners.

*1	Apresia is a registered trademark of Hitachi Cable, Ltd. in Japan.
*2	Criston Precision is a registered trademark of Criston K.K.
*3	EnSEC (Enforcement for Secure Connectivity) is a registered trademark of Hitachi Cable, Ltd. in Japan. It used for a security alliance program promoted by Hitachi Cable. By promoting linkage of the Apresia authentication switches to various devices, software, and services, such as RADIUS servers and quarantine software, the program seeks to expand compatibility with increasingly diverse security needs. See the list of EnSEC partners below.
*4	This standard established by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) addresses access control on individual ports, primarily through RADIUS server-based authentication. It provides standard compatibility with the Windows 2000 and Windows XP operating systems.
*5	AccessDefender is a registered trademark of Hitachi Cable, Ltd. in Japan.

List of EnSEC Partners (as of October 27, 2008)

Product category Product Company Quarantine network Advance measures Criston Precision Criston K.K. NOSiDE Inventory Sub System NTT DATA INTELLILINK CORPORATION SecureCube / PC Check (LAN-Blocker) NRI SecureTechnologies, Ltd. NASCenter Net-ADM NURI Telecom Co., Ltd. iNetSec Inspection Center PFU LIMITED LANDesk Security Suite T.D.I. CO., LTD. EQWAC Quarantine System for Apresia DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD. Hitachi Cable Networks, Ltd. ManagementCore Sumitomo Electric System Solutions Co., Ltd. QuOLA@Adaptor Hitachi Cable Networks, Ltd. Juniper Networks UAC (Integrated access-control solution) Juniper Networks, Inc. Ex post facto measures OnePointWall appliance server SWAT Brains Inc. SSO (Windows domain authentication) User ID Single Sign On for Apresia Kyosai Create Co., Ltd. ASP Mobile phone authentication SecureCall THIRDNETWORKS. CO, LTD. Other Hardware authentication RegistGate NSI Co., Ltd. ROUD Oki Network Integration Co., Ltd. Matrix authentication WisePoint Authenticator Falcon System Consulting, Inc. RADIUS fullflex EG Accense Technology, Inc. Enterpras Std Enterpras ARM Stellar Craft, Inc. Steel-Belted RADIUS Juniper Networks, Inc. Account@Adaptor Hitachi Cable Networks, Ltd. Log administration LOG@Adaptor Hitachi Cable Networks, 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, Ltd.
*	EQWAC is a registered trademark of DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
*	ManagementCore is a registered trademark of Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
*	OnePointWall is a registered trademark of NetAgent Co., Ltd.
*	Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. of the United States in the U.S. and other countries.
*	SecureCall is a registered trademark of THIRDNETWORKS. CO, LTD.
*	RegistGate is a registered trademark of NSI Co., Ltd.
*	WisePoint is a registered trademark of Falcon System Consulting, Inc.
*	Enterpras is a registered trademark of Stellar Craft, Inc.
*	Steel-Belted RADIUS is a registered trademark of Funk Software, Inc. Co.
*	Account@Adaptor and LOG@Adaptor are registered trademarks of Hitachi Cable Networks, Ltd.