In the face of seemingly unrelenting threats to enterprise security, Enterasys Networks Inc. recently announced Dragon 6.0, the latest version of its Dragon Intrusion Detection System (IDS) family.
The Portsmouth, N.H.-based vendor said new Dragon IDS family features a new modular architecture, improved Web-based management, and a new security information management system. The enhancements are designed to reduce the cost of ownership while increasing return on investment (ROI), as well as to provide a complete intrusion detection system for enterprise networks of any size, the company said.
The Dragon 6.0 product line includes: Dragon Network Sensor (high-speed network intrusion detection via software or appliance); Dragon Policy Manager (Web-based management of Dragon deployments); and Dragon Security Information Manager (centralized collection of security information through an integrated monitoring analysis and reporting system). Dragon detects attacks where they occur, using network and host sensors, together with the analysis and real-time
monitoring capabilities of the Dragon Security Information Manager, the company said.
For enterprises looking to monitor and secure activities across the entire network the latest version provides users the information and tools required in making intelligent decisions regarding the security, said Chris Petersen, product marketing manager for Enterasys in Columbia, Md.
More important than the enhanced performance provided by Dragon 6.0’s “plug-in architecture,” the solution helps enterprises to better handle information management, Petersen said, noting that Dragon detects and combines events in the firewall, host, and application with events on the network. He added the product’s pay-per-performance licensing model provides tiered pricing schemes, depending on bandwidth speeds and the size of network size.
Ken Legge, vice-president of business development for Alexandria, Va.-based managed security firm Riptech Inc., noted the product’s appeal lies in the increased functionality and performance. Legge said the enhancements made to the Dragon IDS family makes for an “attractive offering” for clients wishing to monitor and secure activities across their entire network.
Dan McLean, director of enterprise network services research for IDC Canada Ltd. in Toronto, noted that in terms of IT spending, security is probably one of the hottest areas in the market right now. “It’s definitely top of mind,” McLean said. “Clearly people are looking to not just build out IT security systems, but to enhance them as well.” McLean added that intrusion detection systems are now expected to not only monitor network and system activities but also to secure various resource points such as databases and desktops.
Available now, pricing for the Dragon 6.0 family starts at US$3,000. Enterasys Networks can be found at www.enterasys.com.
