Check Point has developed a customized version of its VPN software aimed at service providers to help them protect their networks and offer security services based on the package.

Called VPN-1 Multi-access Security Solution (MASS), the software sits at the edge of carrier networks and secures the connection between customers and service providers with VPN tunnels, minimizing the risk that customers’ traffic will be hacked.

The platform also supports all the other features contained in the corporate version of VPN-1 that is sold to businesses, such as firewall and intrusion prevention support.

VPN-1 MASS is different from traditional VPN-1 in that it includes support for carrier billing and other back-end operations as well as technologies such as IP multimedia subsystems (IMS) and unlicensed mobile access (UMA) that are used in standard IP service-provider network architectures.

In its initial form, VPN-1 MASS comes installed on Nokia IP560 hardware, which Check Point says supports 100,000 sessions per device. The software can run on other platforms as well, including a range of servers.

Vendors including Cisco and Nortel sell carrier gear that can terminate IPSec remote access connections in carrier networks.

VPN-1 MASS is available now and the company says it is being tested in European service provider networks.