Tripwire widens reach of data-integrity offering

PORTLAND, ORE. - Tripwire has broadened the number of network devices it can protect with its data-integrity software designed to prevent tampering of configuration settings in firewalls, switches and routers. The latest version of the product, Tripwire for Network Devices 2.5, also changes the way the software does reporting and alerting on what it monitors.

Tripwire for Network Devices 2.5, which now runs on Windows XP and 2000, and Solaris servers, can monitor and report any attempts at unauthorized configuration changes made on Nokia and NetScreen Technologies firewall appliances. By next month it also will support switches from Extreme Networks and Foundry Networks. Tripwire has added a way for its management console to generate data output via XML formats. In addition, Tripwire data-integrity reporting product now can generate its log reports for import into Crystal Reports and Microsoft Excel.

The earlier version of Tripwire for Network Devices could monitor unauthorized attempts to change the Cisco PIX firewall, but couldn't perform the type of autorestore backup Tripwire does with the Cisco IOS router, for example. With the latest version, customers can manually restore settings in the PIX firewall if that data is found to be lost after Tripwire performs an integrity check. Sometimes power outages can wipe out equipment settings.

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PORTLAND, ORE. - Tripwire has broadened the number of network devices it can protect with its data-integrity software designed to prevent tampering of configuration settings in firewalls, switches and routers. The latest version of the product, Tripwire for Network Devices 2.5, also changes the way the software does reporting and alerting on what it monitors.

Tripwire for Network Devices 2.5, which now runs on Windows XP and 2000, and Solaris servers, can monitor and report any attempts at unauthorized configuration changes made on Nokia and NetScreen Technologies firewall appliances. By next month it also will support switches from Extreme Networks and Foundry Networks. Tripwire has added a way for its management console to generate data output via XML formats. In addition, Tripwire data-integrity reporting product now can generate its log reports for import into Crystal Reports and Microsoft Excel.

The earlier version of Tripwire for Network Devices could monitor unauthorized attempts to change the Cisco PIX firewall, but couldn't perform the type of autorestore backup Tripwire does with the Cisco IOS router, for example. With the latest version, customers can manually restore settings in the PIX firewall if that data is found to be lost after Tripwire performs an integrity check. Sometimes power outages can wipe out equipment settings.

"Customers told us they didn't want auto-restore on the firewall due to concerns about its sensitivity as a security application, but they did want an easy way to make the choice to manually restore setting," says Alex Bender, Tripwire product marketing manager.

As Tripwire expands the number of switches and security devices on which it can do data integrity checks, intrusion detection and autorestoration, it is forging close partnerships with other vendors. Work now being done with Internet Security Systems might pan out into support for intrusion-detection systems by Tripwire as well, Bender says.

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