Last month, I invited four of the leading security hardware suppliers to a debate at the upcoming CeBIT America conference, and I'm pleased to report that all of them accepted the challenge.

On June 18 in New York City, Network World Senior Editor and security expert Ellen Messmer will join me on stage to grill Cisco, Network Associates, Nokia and Symantec in the first portion of the Network World Security Showdown - an unscripted, presidential-style debate.

Messmer and I will ask these four vendors about the strengths and weaknesses of their security offerings - from firewall to intrusion prevention - and their strategies for helping customers lock down networks.

Once we're through with our questions, we'll sit back and watch as the vendors grill each other in what's usually the most provocative portion of these Showdowns. (We've done nearly two dozen of these debates on a range of technology topics.) After the vendors have a go at one other, audience members can pose their own questions.

Our speaker lineup is superb. Cisco is sending Jeff Platon, senior director of product and technology marketing for security. From Network Associates, we'll have Christopher Bolin, senior vice president of product development, and from Nokia, we've got Dan MacDonald, vice president, Nokia Internet Communications. Symantec has committed Charlie Johnson, vice president of Symantec Security Services.

These top executives will have to think on their feet and be prepared to answer unscripted questions from their rivals and us - questions designed to show the real differences in their product portfolios and strategic direction.

In the editorial challenging the companies to participate, Messmer and I said we'd consider adding a fifth company to the lineup, a kind of wild card to shake up the mix. After reviewing recent developments, we've decided to challenge Sun to join us up on stage. Sun is involved in a number of development initiatives and partnerships aimed at positioning Sun's hardware as security appliances. We'll let you know how Sun responds to the challenge.

For now, send me your thoughts and questions for the Security Showdown. We'll make sure the vendors address your concerns.

To Symantec, Nokia, Network Associates and Cisco: Thanks for taking the challenge.

To Sun: Are you up to it?