Cisco works with Trend Micro to protect networks

Cisco Systems Inc, the world's largest maker of computer-network equipment, said yesterday it would team up with Trend Micro Inc (趨勢科技) to block the spread of network viruses.

Under the alliance, Cisco will integrate the anti-virus software maker's technologies into its products, Larry Chai (翟良超), country manager of Cisco Systems Taiwan, told a press conference yesterday.

"Online security has become a major concern of individual and corporate users after a series of virus attacks wreaked havoc around the world, and we found it takes both equipment makers and software manufacturers to jointly enhance network security," Chai said.

The partnership will benefit a large number of computer users as Cisco supplies 80 percent of the world's computer network equipment, and Trend Micro tops the Internet gateway anti-virus market with 39 percent market share.

The first step of the new collaboration is to integrate Trend Micro's network virus and worm signatures into the software Cisco uses for intrusion detection, including routers, switches and security appliances, Chai said. The new products are scheduled for release in the third quarter, he said.

The cooperation is actually an extension of the Cisco Network Admission Control (NAC) program started in November last year. Under the program, Trend Micro, along with Symantec Corp and Network Associates Inc, use Cisco routers to enforce network admission control.

The control system enables computers to automatically check if there are any viruses in the system, or if the computer has updated virus codes, before users connect to the Internet, Chai said. If the detector finds worms or outdated anti-virus software, it will prevent the computer from accessing the Internet until the problems are fixed.

"This is just like the SARS quarantine measure that obstructs viruses from spreading in the first stage," Chai said.

Marvin Chiu (丘立全), general manager of Trend Micro Inc's Taiwanese unit, said the integration can effectively block network viruses such as notorious Blaster, Slammer and Code Red, which caused losses of NT$7.3 billion around the world.

The system will also detect and filter worms, Chiu said. However, Chiu suggested enterprises carry out stricter security management by applying patches as they become available.