Fave raves

Ed Mann, vice president of network technology planning, Prudential Securities
Years in networking: 27
Product choice: Neoteris' Instant Virtual Extranet
Explanation: "Instant Virtual Extranet is a [Secure Sockets Layer]-based VPN product that lets people securely access Prudential applications and our network using any browser. Users authenticate using [RSA Security] SecurID tokens, giving us full authentication, but they don't need a laptop with VPN software installed. It's great because we don't have to deploy a VPN client to everyone, which is a very big deal. Every time we update a client, we have to get it out to 25,000 people, so Instant Virtual Extranet gives us a huge savings from that perspective. We also gain the flexibility and the functionality of being able to access important applications from anywhere. It's definitely a best tool for us."

Jim White, vice president of IT, Prudential Securities
Years in networking: 16
Product choice: Cisco's Hoot and Holler over IP

Explanation: "In the securities business, most firms use analog 'hoot' technology, which is a two-way, always-on conference bridge that lets analysts or experts speak to a host of offices and give them up-to-date information on equities, bonds, etc. The problem is, it's very expensive, it's prone to failure, and it's difficult to maintain.

"Instead of analog, Cisco Hoot and Holler over IP takes the voice, wraps it up in TCP/IP, sends it over our IP data network and kicks it out at the other end to an analog voice device. It's saved the firm $1.5 million annually vs. the traditional analog system. Plus, a byproduct has been a significant improvement in the meantime to repair. Now when a site causes a problem, we can isolate it and get it off the network in 10 minutes or less. In the past, it could take several hours. It's been a big win for us, definitely a 'best.' "

Brian Young, CIO, Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Years in networking: 8
Product choice: Symantec's Norton AntiVirus Enterprise Edition
Explanation: "Given the context of an educational institution and students bringing computers to campus, the best thing ever is the enterprise edition of our antivirus program, Norton AntiVirus.

"We clean in the ballpark of 8,000 viruses off of our network and mail system every day, and that is 8,000 viruses that don't get onto campus, don't tie up our help desk and don't infect other things on campus. It has been a tremendous asset, especially in terms of return on investment, with the savings in time, resources and personnel. No two ways about it, it's the best."

Erik Towt, network analyst, Denver Broncos
Years in networking: 5
Product choice: Linksys wireless access points and cards, Compaq iPaqs
Explanation: "Without Linksys, our new Broncos Barn wouldn't be possible. Outside the stadium before games, the Broncos Barn provides entertainment to the fans, with bands and food, etc. We set up Linksys wireless access points so that we can run credit cards out there. Basically, it's in the middle of the parking lot and there's no way to run data out there without ripping out hundreds of yards of asphalt. Using Linksys makes the lot a revenue generator. It's definitely a best.

"Another best is our GamePlus application. In each luxury box in Invesco Field, we have a computer with a touch-screen monitor linked to a wireless network. We pipe out video replays, other NFL games, various stats, explanations of rules and so on. It's very interactive and adds a lot of value for the fans. We're using Compaq iPaqs for the system, so in the larger suites, we can leave them on the bar and people can sit there and play with them. It adds entertainment value, and that's the business we're in."

Jake Star, vice president of computer services, Mohegan Sun Resorts
Years in networking: 16
Product choice: NetScout Systems' nGenius
Explanation: "We've just finished a $1.2 billion expansion of our property, almost tripling the size of our network and physical space. That's made us a really complicated network, and one thing we see from the network side is that the applications guys tend to blame problems on the network. In the past, when this would happen, we'd get a protocol analyzer and go out to wherever the issue was and try to analyze what was going on. With NetScout, we no longer have to do that. We already have the monitors in place and whenever someone's blaming something on the network, we can immediately look at the traffic, model the conversations that our applications have and see exactly where the communication breaks down - because, of course, it's never really a network problem. NGenius is the best because it reduces our downtime, which is money to us. When slot machines are down, we're not making money."

Cummings is a freelance writer in North Andover, Mass. She can be reached at jocummings@attbi.com