Nokia joins forces with Check Point and Intel to improve security for corporate networks

[Nikos Kartalis]

Nokia, one of the world's most trusted technology companies, has teamed up with Check Point and Intel to enhance corporate network security in the face of rising threats. Nokia is working together with Check Point and Intel to improve enterprise security by delivering powerful new security appliances that efficiently inspect network traffic in multi-gigabit environments and search deeper for signs of attacks without slowing network performance. The first result of this collaboration is the Nokia IP2450 security platform, a high-end integrated security appliance for Firewall/VPN with high-performance and IT investment protection for business customers (see separate Nokia press release).

With integrated innovations, customers are able to realize the full potential of their network security infrastructure. The quad-core Intel Xeon processor 5355 allows security appliances to manage high traffic volumes more efficiently at the CPU level. The recently announced Check Point CoreXL, part of the Open Performance Architecture, provides data center performance levels with strict security activated by leveraging multi-core processors. Nokia brings the multi-processing innovations together with its own hardened Nokia IPSO operating system and Nokia Accelerated Data Path Card technology, delivering the complete package in an IP security appliance backed by global support and services.

"The collaboration of Nokia, Check Point and Intel will bring a tighter integration of the hardware, operating environment and applications to allow customers to benefit from increased performance at decreasing prices," said Andy Buss, principal analyst, Canalys. "Partners and integrators will benefit from the increased performance and interoperability allowing them to concentrate on value added services and support."

As next steps, Nokia plans to support Check Point CoreXL on Nokia IP2450 and other multi-core platforms early next year; and engineering teams at the three companies plan to explore how to take advantage of upcoming Nokia ADP Card and Nokia IPSO innovations to further improve security performance. At the go-to-market level, the companies plan to conduct joint security channel briefings beginning in select EMEA markets in November.

"Our customers want the highest levels of security and performance. ASIC-based solutions can't compete with the speed and flexibility of Check Point and Intel combined," said Robert Egner, vice president of product management, Check Point. "Together with Nokia leveraging the Intel and Check Point CoreXL innovations, we envision many more opportunities to solve enterprise security challenges with our joint channel community."

"The newly introduced Nokia IP2450 is a perfect example of how sharing innovations between Nokia, Intel and Check Point is helping customers better address security threats and earn benefits from every piece of their IT investment in a security appliance," said Tom Furlong, vice president, Security and Mobile Connectivity, Nokia. "This further bolsters the Nokia security product portfolio enabling us to deliver expandable solutions backed by the global support and maintenance that large companies and service providers demand."

"Intel is very active in the security space helping the industry solve the challenges of deeper inspection of traffic without slowing network performance," said Doug Davis, vice president and general manager, Embedded and Communications Group, Intel. "The quad-core Intel Xeon processor 5355 based platforms are designed to improve security and server density while lowering power and cooling costs. This allows leading vendors like Check Point and Nokia to benefit and improve upon multi-core technology from Intel."