Security Scene-Stealer?

With backing from Accel Partners, Sequoia Capital and Invesco Private Capital and a management team comprising former executives of Foundry Networks, Juniper Networks and NetScreen Technologies, ConSentry Networks, Milpitas, Calif., this week rolls out its channel program two weeks ahead of the launch of its first product, a LAN security appliance it claims secures LANs without slowing down network traffic.

The company would not disclose details of the product until its Sept. 19 launch. But according to documents viewed by CRN, the CS2400 appliance enforces network access policies on a user, application and malware control basis at wirespeed.

The CS2400 is an entirely new approach to LAN security, solution providers said. Up to this point, security appliances have focused on the edge of the network, but the LAN is equally as vulnerable in today&s mobile environment, said Babak Pasdar, founder and CTO of igxglobal, Rocky Hill, Conn. Still, LAN engineers have eschewed security in favor of speed, he said. This appliance could change that because it provides protection “at LAN speed, not WAN speed,” he said.

The CS2400 provides deep scanning and aggressive enforcement of policy without any degradation in performance, said Jeff Brown, director of business development at Network System Architects Corp., a solution provider in Stoughton, Mass. More importantly, Brown said, is it provides “self-defending” network capabilities without having to upgrade existing network infrastructure.

ConSentry&s channel program is designed to form close relationships with a small cadre of solution providers, said Dean Hickman-Smith, vice president of worldwide sales. “We are looking for partners willing to become a true extension of our sales force,” he said.

Partners commit to a 12-month business plan including mutual investments in marketing and training and a demo lab at their facilities. In return, they receive deal registration, training and dedicated support from ConSentry&s sales team, Hickman-Smith said. To ensure a “contention-free environment,” the sales force is compensated based on the sales of the partners it works with.