NL Short Takes

Secure Network Access Switch unveiled by NortelNortel Networks Corp. released its new secure network access (SNA) switch, which will allow the company’s Secure Network Access (SNA) solution to be applied to the enterprise LAN as well as the remote VPN applications that it already serves. The SNA solution provides endpoint security by requiring devices trying to access the network to comply with a common set of security policies. "Many security risks to today’s enterprise networks come from internal users unknowingly introducing malicious viruses to the network due to a lack of updated security measures," said Nortel’s general manager of enterprise data networks, Atul Bhatnagar, in a news release. "Enforcing endpoint security within the enterprise LAN is just as important as ensuring secure access with remote VPN users." The switch acts as a security gateway that coordinates a single security policy across the network, working with VPN routers and gateways and Ethernet routing switches. McAfee unveils network access control strategyMcAfee NAC, the new network access control strategy from McAfee Inc., will leverage the company’s expertise in enterprise-scale security management and policy enforcement and its expertise in system and network security. The solution, which is powered by McAfee Policy Enforcer, protects networks from endpoint malware and misconfiguration while providing anytime access to employees, contractors and guests. "The McAfee NAC framework includes a proven policy management infrastructure that already manages over 40 million endpoints today," said VP product management for McAfee, Rees Johnson, in a press release. "McAfee is the only pure play security vendor with extensive expertise in both endpoint and network security. Now, it offers the industry’s only policy management system to combine comprehensive security protection tightly integrated within a NAC policy framework." The company’s NAC strategy consists of a five-step process: policy definition; detection; assessment; enforcement; and remediation. McAfee Policy Enforcer will be available in March. New partnership to strengthen ACD Systems’ sales practicesVictoria-based ACD Systems International Inc. has contracted consulting firm Coss, McCormick Partners to create a world-class sales team to invigorate sales of the company’s products. ACD develops and markets digital imaging software including, ACDSee 8 Photo Manager, ACDSee Pro Photo Manager and Canvas X. California-based Jon Coss and Tim McCormick spent a combined 22 years at Oracle where they were awarded sales person and manager of the year seven times, and increased company revenues by 35% in 2001 to $35 million. At ACD, their firm will focus on "aligning the sales force with corporate objectives, implementing the sales processes and standards needed to drive and support increasing revenues, and identifying and attracting high achieving sales and management talent" according to a press release. CRTC approves Rogers CDNA applicationThe CRTC has approved an application by Rogers Telecom Holdings Inc. (filed by the former Call-Net Enterprises Inc.) that certain leased carrier access circuits located in a Bell Canada wire centre area were Competitor Digital Network Access (CDNA)-eligible from June 1, 2002 to February 2, 2005. Bell had advised Rogers Telecom that the circuits were not CDNA-eligible due to a previous CRTC decision (2005-6) and therefore were subject to higher retail Digital Network Access rates during the interim period leading up to the decision. MTS Allstream filed in support of the Rogers application and Telus Communications Inc. also stated it hadn’t made accesses ineligible for CDNA rates under similar circumstances. In its determination, the commission confirmed that its previous decision did not affect the pricing during the interim period and therefore the associated customer access was eligible for CDNA rates. Quebec leading in venture capital growthVenture capital activity in Quebec experienced growth in 2005 as a total of $710 million was disbursed, up from $635 million, in 2004 according to results compiled by Thomson Macdonald and announced by Réseau Capital, the province’s venture capital and private equity association. "The strides made in 2005 are very encouraging," said Lucien Bergevin, president of Réseau Capital, in a news release. "We’re the Canadian venture capital leaders, and I’m very pleased to see that Quebec is so active. Venture capital activity is showing clear signs of recovery, and IT and healthcare have definitely benefited." Information technology firms were at the forefront of venture capital growth in Quebec, with cash disbursed to 76 companies in 2005 up 4% over the previous year. Venture capital investments in Canada as a whole totalled $1.8 billion, essentially the same as in 2004. Yak World VoIP Unlimited goes internationalYak Communications Inc. is now offering its yakUnlimited calling plan to customers outside of North America. The new service allows international customers to register for a local North American phone number on which they can make and receive calls to anywhere in the world. Said Charles Zwebner, Yak’s CEO, in a news release: "The international availability of yakUnlimited furthers our commitment to providing users with greater access to its growing community and services around the world. This application offers international subscribers access to a high quality and very inexpensive North American dial-tone, enabling subscribers to benefit from our extensive features and functionality, and ultra competitive international rates with more than 40 countries priced at $.03 or less." Features available to yakUnlimited subscribers include voicemail, unified messaging, caller ID, call waiting and conference calling. The plan costs US$19.99 per month. Northwestel to receive $9.8 million in fundingThe CRTC has approved Northwestel Inc.’s application for $9.8 million in supplemental funding for 2006. As part of the procedure, Northwestel submitted forecasted operating revenues of $144.2 million, operating expenses of $77.5 million, and pension, interest and depreciation expenses of $49.8 million for 2006. The commission determined that all forecasted figures were reasonable, along with the request of $9.8 million in funding. Northwestel is the incumbent local exchange carrier for the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and part of northern British Columbia. Due to the high-cost nature of its entire service area, the telco has been approved for supplemental funding on an annual basis. Northwestel received $9.3 million in 2004 and $9.1 million for 2005. Trusted Computing Group welcomes NortelNortel has announced that it will participate in the non-profit Trusted Network Connect (TNC) work group, which develops open industry specifications that ensure secure interoperability across multi-vendor network security solutions. The TNC is part of the Trusted Computing Group, also a not-for-profit organization established to develop, define, and promote open standards for hardware-enabled trusted computing and security technologies. "By joining forces with other leading proponents of an industry-standard approach, we can help create momentum for interoperability in delivering secure network access throughout the industry," said Nortel’s president of packet and enterprise networks, Steve Slattery, in a news release. "Nortel expects to aggressively support the rapid development of relevant security standards supporting converged communications." TNC specifications, which many group members now support in their products, were initially introduced by the TCG in May 2005. Nortel is integrating these specifications into its secure network access solution, including its secure network access switch, and is one of over 60 industry vendors to join the TNC work group.

NL Short Takes

News | March 7, 2006

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