Hitachi Cable, Ltd. has confirmed the interoperability of its Apresia*1 authentication switches and the Infoblox Network Services Appliance appliance server from Infoblox Inc. (headquarters: Santa Clara, CA, USA; CEO: Robert Thomas)*2, *3. With interoperability confirmed, Infoblox will now join the EnSEC*4 security alliance program promoted by Hitachi Cable.

Awareness of security threats to enterprise information networks has grown in recent years. Such threats include not just attacks originating from outside the company's network, but from internal connections, previously regarded as secure. Examples of such connections include the spread of viruses after inadequately secured PCs or other devices are connected to a network, information leaks via users not authorized to connect to a network, and inappropriate network use.

In response, in addition to existing efforts to attain certification under the IEEE 802.1X*5 international standard, Hitachi Cable will provide PC quarantine LAN solutions based on Apresia's own AccessDefender*6 authentication functions. AccessDefender authenticates multiple PC clients connected under the same desktop switch, making full use of existing networks by adopting PC quarantine solutions. Clients have given high marks to this approach and to the lower adoption costs it makes possible.

To ensure access to Apresia's benefits for an even wider range of potential clients, Hitachi Cable is currently actively confirming the interoperability of Apresia with quarantine systems and devices from various other vendors.

As part of these efforts, by confirming the interoperability of its Apresia series and the Infoblox Network Services Appliance appliance server from Infoblox, Hitachi Cable has added a new authenticated network solution to its product lineup.

The Infoblox Network Services Appliance appliance server integrates DHCP*7, RADIUS*8, and DNS*9 services, into a single device. Focusing on these three functions makes it possible to create a streamlined system with better reliability and stability than general-purpose servers. Armed with the Infoblox Network Services Appliance, clients can eliminate (through MAC authentication) connections by unauthorized PCs brought from outside the organization and administer user and device authentication histories in an integrated manner. The Infoblox Network Services Appliance also supports high-speed, highly reliable redundant structures based on the industry-standard VRRP*10 redundancy protocol. An easy-to-understand visual GUI*11 provides superior usability, cutting adoption and operating costs while dramatically reducing security risks.

Working closely with its partners, Hitachi Cable plans to further expand its share of the Ethernet switch market for enterprise and service providers by strengthening its lineup of various network solutions and leveraging the sales channels of its Apresia sales partners.

*1	Apresia is a registered trademark of Hitachi Cable, Ltd. in Japan.
*2	An appliance server is a server providing specific functions.
*3	Infoblox is a trademark or registered trademark of Infoblox Inc. in the United States and other countries.
*4	EnSEC (Enforcement for Secure Connectivity) is a registered trademark of Hitachi Cable, Ltd., used for a security alliance program promoted by Hitachi Cable. Promoting the linkage of the Apresia authentication switches to various devices, software, and services, such as RADIUS servers and quarantine software increases compatibility while meeting increasing diverse security needs. See the List of EnSEC Partners below.
*5	Compatible with the Windows 2000/XP operating systems standard, this standard was established by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) to standardize access control for individual ports, primarily through RADIUS authentication.
*6	AccessDefender is a registered trademark of Hitachi Cable, Ltd. in Japan.
*7	DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, a protocol that automatically assigns information (such as IP addresses) necessary to connect to a network.
*8	RADIUS stands for Remote Authentication Dial-In User Services. A RADIUS server determines whether to permit connections based on user information stored in a database. The server also maintains records of connections.
*9	DNS, standing for Domain Name System, is used to manage correspondence between IP addresses and the hostnames on networks and domain names used for e-mail and other purposes.
*10	VRRP stands for Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol and is used to achieve router redundancy and to switch automatically to a backup router in the event of problems.
*11	GUI refers to a Graphical User Interface, an interface designed to display various controls on screen in a graphical manner to enable intuitive control using a mouse or similar input device.

List of EnSEC Partners (as of November 18, 2008)

Product category Product Company DHCP/RADIUS Infoblox Network Services Appliance Infoblox Inc. RADIUS full flex EG Accense Technology, Inc. Enterpras Std Enterpras ARM Stellar Craft, Inc. Steel-Belted RADIUS Juniper Networks, Inc. Account@Adaptor Hitachi Cable Networks, Ltd. Quarantine network Advance measures 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. Criston Precision Criston K.K. Ex post facto measures OnePointWall Appliabce Sever SWAT Brains Inc. SSO (linked to 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. Log administration LOG@Adaptor Hitachi Cable Networks, Ltd.

*	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.
*	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.
*	Criston Precision is a registered trademark of Criston K.K.
*	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.