nGenius Real-Time Monitor Allows NetScout Customers to Minimize Risk Through
Immediate Detection of Harmful Traffic
WESTFORD, Mass., Feb. 14 --
NetScout Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTCT) today announced that its customers can
immediately adapt their nGenius(TM) monitoring solutions to help identify
attacks and contain potential damage resulting from Simple Network Management
Protocol (SNMP) related security risks. The threat, identified by CERT on
February 12, 2002, exposes the risk to routers, switches and other SNMP-
managed devices as being vulnerable to denial-of-service or other attacks.
NetScout is making available instructions and a tool kit that allow
customers to immediately identify the abnormal levels of SNMP traffic and
malicious packets that are at the core of this problem. The instructions are
for configuring the nGenius system to profile SNMP traffic and immediately
notify IT staff when an anomaly is observed. The tool kit enhances the probe
so it examines SNMP traffic for rogue packets and captures information
regarding the source and destination of the attack. With this, IT
organizations are able to identify and minimize this new risk of network
services interruption and/or failure.
In its February 13th Gartner FirstTake advisory, "Take Action Against SNMP
Security Risks," Gartner cautioned enterprises to take action against these
risks. "Any enterprise whose Internet operations are taken down, or damaged
by hackers exploiting these security holes, is derelict in its operations if
it hasn't taken action," said Bill Gassman, Research Director for Gartner.
"Protection against the damage caused by these threats is inherent in our
nGenius system," said Michael Szabados, Senior Vice President of Product
Operations for NetScout. "Visibility into these types of unexpected network
traffic patterns allows IT staff to act quickly and gain control of
potentially catastrophic situations. NetScout's approach to network
management delivers independent, continuous monitoring of all network traffic,
even in the event that SNMP management must be shut down on other pieces of
network equipment. These tools will allow our customers to quickly and easily
extend their nGenius solution into a valuable line of defense to stop security
threats from spreading throughout the network."
Szabados added, "NetScout's products pose no risk to our customers'
networks associated with this threat. Our passive monitoring approach allows
the network to be managed without adding traffic, or affecting the performance
of network equipment."
NetScout has tested its products against this threat. nGenius Real-Time
Monitor is not affected. nGenius Capacity Planner, nGenius Application
Service Level Manager, and NetScout Manager are presently being tested. A
software update is being made available to mitigate any risk to NetScout
probes and will be accessible along with the instructions and toolkit on
Friday of this week. Please refer to NetScout's Web site at:
http://www.netscout.com/support/index.htm.
About nGenius
NetScout's nGenius(TM) Performance Management System helps organizations
increase their return on infrastructure investments by optimizing the
performance of their network and its ability to deliver applications and
content to end-users. It delivers comprehensive, integrated performance
information generated by NetScout's line of application-aware probes and
active agents, plus network devices.
NetScout's nGenius Real-Time Monitor is a software solution that measures
Web and application performance and troubleshoots network problems -- all in
real-time -- before they affect the end-user. It also continuously tracks and
analyzes voice, video and data traffic and conducts packet-level analysis.
nGenius Real-Time Monitor integrates the high-quality performance information
gathered by NetScout's application-aware probes, to provide unparalleled
visibility and control of your network.
About NetScout Systems
NetScout Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTCT) is a market leader and pioneer of
integrated infrastructure performance management solutions for leading
companies and service providers worldwide. NetScout serves the Global 2000
and counts among its customers AmericanGreetings.com, ArvinMeritor, Blue Cross
and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Cable and Wireless, Cisco Systems, China
Telecom, Fidelity Investments, Getronics, Goodyear Tire & Rubber, Hold
Brothers, Nextel Communications, Northwest Airlines, Optimus
Telecommunications, Samsung SDS, Siemens Health Services Corporation, Starband
Communications, Travelocity.com, Visa International, and Wachovia Bank.
NetScout's solutions are offered through its nGenius(TM) Performance
Management System, an integrated solutions-based suite of advanced monitoring
and reporting applications that draw on the rich performance data generated by
NetScout's real-time, application-aware probe suite, advanced intelligent
software agents, and network devices. The nGenius System helps organizations
increase their return on infrastructure investments by optimizing the
performance of their network, applications and content. NetScout is
headquartered in Westford, Massachusetts and has approximately 360 employees,
with offices in North America, Europe and Asia. Further information on the
company is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.netscout.com.
NetScout is a registered trademark, and the NetScout logo, nGenius,
nGenius Application Service Level Manager, nGenius Real-Time Monitor, nGenius
Capacity Planner and nGenius Probe are trademarks of NetScout Systems, Inc.
For Further Information:
Peggy Flynn Dustin Smith or John Moran
NetScout Systems Schwartz Communications, Inc.
(978) 614-4162 (781) 684-0770
flynnp@netscout.com netscout@schwartz-pr.com
SOURCE NetScout Systems, Inc.
Web site: http://www.netscout.com
CONTACT: Peggy Flynn of NetScout Systems, +1-978-614-4162,
flynnp@netscout.com; or Dustin Smith or John Moran of Schwartz
Communications, Inc., +1-781-684-0770, netscout@schwartz-pr.com