Cisco Expected To Overhaul Security Line

Cisco tomorrow will announce a major overhaul of its security product line, according to published reports.

The overhaul is said to focus on helping Cisco make good on its promise of creating a "self-defending" network by introducing products aimed at secure socket layer virtual private networks and (SSL VPNs), intrusion prevention, IP telephony security, and bringing network protection to desktop computers.

The company is expected to make the announcement at a press conference at the RSA Conference in San Francisco tomorrow.

The new SSL VPN is expected to include the ability to allow users to access a variety of non-Web applications, such as email. Currently, Cisco's SSL VPN only supports Web-based applications.

The announcements are also expected to include more powerful intrusion detection, and new security for Cisco's PIX Firewall to allow it to more thoroughly protect IP telephony. In addition, Cisco's Internetwork Operating Software (IOS) is said to be getting an update, which will allow new security capabilities to be added to the company's switches and routers.Cisco's desktop security agent, a major component of the company's Network Admission Control architecture, is also expected to be overhauled, with the addition of anti-spyware protection. Also said to be announced will be a a new blade for Cisco Catalyst switches to prevent denial-of-service attacks against Web servers.

Cisco's network management tools are also expected to be upgrading, using technology from Protego, which Cisco acquired in December.