Press Releases
IT Representatives Concerned About New Security Threats
Independent Study Shows Application-level Attacks Top List of Concerns
Sunnyvale, CA - October 20, 2003—Organizations throughout the globe are concerned about new and emerging security threats to their businesses that surpass typical network-level attacks, according to results of a security study commissioned by NetScreen Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: NSCN) and conducted by independent research firm, Vanson Bourne, Ltd.
Application-level Attacks Present Biggest Threat
Information technology (IT) and security managers surveyed around the world indicated that the main threats to their networks are from Internet and computer-generated Trojans and worms, email and Web attacks, database attacks, as well as threats that exploit known software vulnerabilities – all considered application-level attacks.
“This is a stark contrast to years past when network and security managers mostly worried about controlling access and preventing network-level attacks, such as IP spoofing and port/network scans,” said Mark Bouchard, senior program director at Meta Group. “Traditional firewalls have addressed these threats very well; however, IT managers are recognizing the need for more advanced solutions to address today’s highly sophisticated application-level attacks.”
Confidence in Legacy Solutions Mixed
In addition to a growing concern over application-level attacks, survey results indicate that only 12 percent of respondents worldwide were “extremely confident” that their current security solutions would protect their organization from these various security threats. The remaining had varied levels of confidence, including 46 percent who ranged from somewhat to not at all confident.
“The results of this survey confirm that businesses are becoming more and more aware of the increasing volume and complexity of threats to their networks,” said David Flynn, vice president of marketing at NetScreen. “Because security is a complex problem, enterprises need to have comprehensive, highly advanced solutions in place, such as NetScreen’s new Deep Inspection firewall, that enable effective and efficient network protection against new and emerging threats.”
To provide enterprises highly effective security against increasingly complex attacks, NetScreen has introduced the NetScreen Deep Inspection firewall. The Deep Inspection firewall, which is expected to be available on certain NetScreen platforms beginning in November, 2003, builds upon the stateful firewall, virtual private network (VPN) and denial of service protection capabilities currently available in NetScreen’s integrated network security appliances and systems to provide advanced network- and application-level protection. (See related NetScreen press release also issued Oct. 20, 2003: “NetScreen to Break New Ground with Deep Inspection Firewall and Security Management Platform Introductions”.)
Additional Survey Findings
According to survey respondents, the top shortcoming of current solutions was “depth of protection”. Further, security experts in the respondent organizations recognized the value of an integrated platform – citing ease of management and, particularly in the Americas, an ability to handle a variety of different attacks or threats, such as those at the application-level, as major advantages that can help address depth-of-protection concerns.
The majority of security decision maker respondents (55 percent worldwide) indicated that they are more likely to make their next purchase an integrated security platform than a stand-alone one. Additionally, the top capabilities desired in an integrated security platform are firewall, intrusion detection/prevention, antivirus, and virtual private network (VPN).
The survey was commissioned by NetScreen and conducted by independent research firm Vanson Bourne in July and August of 2003. More than 1,300 survey responses worldwide were completed. Respondents invited to participate in the study were drawn from a combination of sample sources and encompassed several vertical industries, including manufacturing, retail, finance, government, and healthcare, among others. The respondent sample reflects a blend of small-, medium-, and large-sized businesses.
To access a detailed survey report, visit: http://www.netscreen.com/company/news_room/whatsnew_1.jsp
About NetScreen Technologies
NetScreen Technologies, Inc., is a leading developer of integrated network security solutions that offer the security, performance and total cost of ownership required by enterprises and carriers. NetScreen’s innovative solutions provide key security technologies, such as virtual private network, denial of service protection, firewall and intrusion prevention, in a line of easy-to-manage security appliances and systems. NetScreen is located at 805 11th Ave. Sunnyvale, CA 94089. More information on NetScreen’s products can be found at http://www.netscreen.com or by calling toll free at 1-800-638-8296.
NetScreen, ScreenOS and the NetScreen logo are trademarks of NetScreen Technologies, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
This press release contains forward-looking statements about events and circumstances that have not yet occurred. For example, words such as “will”, “expects”, “enables”, “influencing”, “believes”, “planned,”“continue” and “continuing”, or other statements in the future tense, are forward-looking statements. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from expectations in this press release due to a number of risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to whether the market for security products will grow as projected, if at all, whether demand for NetScreen products will continue, whether new products, if and when introduced, will be successful whether new products will be available within announced timeframes and whether products will perform as expected.
