Week in Security: Managed Security Forecast, New Alliances

%95 Growing demand for managed security services will push that market from $720 million in 2000 to $2.2 billion by 2005, according to market-research firm IDC. The demand is driven by a shortage of capital and security expertise, as well as growing security threats, the firm said. The biggest opportunities for security managed service providers (MSPs) are in the SMB market, IDC said.

%95 WatchGuard Technologies, a maker of Internet security products, said Thursday it will acquire RapidStream, a San Jose, Calif.-based provider of ASIC-based firewall and VPN appliances for about $48 million. WatchGuard said the acquisition, which is expected to close early in the second quarter, would allow it to expand its market reach with a broader range of products.

%95 New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer filed a lawsuit against Network Associates alleging that the company tries to prevent users from criticizing the company's software. Spitzer said Network Associates tells users they cannot publish product reviews or benchmark tests without its permission. Network Associates executives said the language that the lawsuit cites was intended to ensure that reviewers of its products have the most recent and appropriate versions for testing. The company recently changed that language to request that reviewers contact the company before conducting benchmark tests to make sure they have the correct version of the product.

%95 Websense, San Diego, and SonicWall, Sunnyvale, Calif., said they will work together to integrate Websense's Internet management software with SonicWall's Internet firewall and VPN appliances. The alliance will integrate Websense Enterprise 4.3 software with SonicWall's appliances, ranging from the Tele3 for the telecommuter to the GX6500 for the enterprise. The joint product is slated for availability soon.

%95 Symantec released new firewall and VPN products featuring enhancements in speed, centralized management and ease of use. The Symantec Enterprise Firewall 7.0 scales to speeds over 1.5 Gbps and allows the option to integrate high-availability/load-balancing capabilities into the firewall. Symantec Enterprise VPN can be integrated with the Enterprise Firewall or used alone.

%95 Austin, Texas-based NetSolve, a provider of remote network management services, announced channel partnerships with Berbee Information Networks, Garrison Technologies, IBM Global Services, NEC Business Network Solutions and others to provide network security.

%95 The National Cyber Security Alliance, a partnership between the federal government and the private sector, launched the Stay Safe Online Campaign to educate home users and small businesses on computer security. The alliance said a new Web site, located at www.staysafeonline.com provides consumers with security tips and other tools to protect their systems.

%95 Secure Computing, San Jose, announced an automated and streamlined token deployment process for its SafeWord PremierAccess access control, authentication, and authorization solution. The new Token Deployment Service offers three levels of service depending on customer needs.