HP Enters Next-Generation Firewall Game

HP has launched a next-generation firewall, entering a market currently swamped with smaller companies, whilst pushing out a host of other security technologies.

The HP TippingPoint Next-Generation Firewall is “an easy-to-use firewall appliance”, HP said, providing 7,500 filters and the Next Generation Intrusion Prevention System (NGIPS) engine “with a 99.99999 percent network uptime track record”.

Next-generation firewall competition

Palo Alto Networks is adamant it is the next-generation firewall market leader, but other players such as Sourcefire, recently acquired by Cisco, have impressed analysts, whilst Check Point has been around for years. McAfee entered the market when it bought Stonesoft earlier this year.

HP will be hoping its TippingPoint kit can compete.

HP has also introduced what it claimed is the first community-sourced security intelligence platform – HP Threat Central. It will provide “automated, real-time collaboration among organisations in the battle against active cyber threats”, according to the tech giant.

Another interesting launch is the SureStart “self-healing technology”. HP said it would automatically restore an HP EliteBook’s Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) to its previously safe state if attacked or corrupted.

“Enterprises today aren’t facing a single attacker; they are fighting a well-organized, well-funded adversary marketplace,” said Art Gilliland, senior vice president and general manager for enterprise security products at HP.

“To succeed in thwarting attacks, you need a trusted partner that can provide end-to-end security with enhanced threat intelligence to disrupt the adversary. Only HP can deliver this.”

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