Next generation software-based portable protocol analysis tool addresses the overlooked security "Black Hole" with centralized user-based policy control and reporting for large-scale networks
WESTFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
NetScout Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTCT), today announced the availability
of Sniffer® Global, the industry’s first enterprise-class
software-based portable network analyzer solution for both wired and
wireless networks, continuing forward with its execution and integration
of its acquisition of Network General and its products and technologies.
Extending the industry’s most advanced and widely deployed Sniffer
Portable network analyzer software, Sniffer Global is an
enterprise-class portable network analyzer solution that brings much
needed security, control, user activity reporting and enhanced
manageability that raises the bar in portable software-based network
analyzer technology. With deployment-proven, best-in-class
functionality, rich expert modes and packet-level analysis capabilities
and the industry’s widest range of protocol decodes, Sniffer Global
delivers intuitive, easy-to-use dashboards and network views that
include deep packet drill-down capabilities to aid field service
personnel in the identification of localized network performance issues
in real-time.
Plugging the Black Hole – With Security, Control and Reporting
The portable protocol analyzer remains a widely used front-line tool
that helps to improve real-time troubleshooting with localized
provisional visibility for today’s modern IP network. However, the
portable protocol analysis tools currently in use have evolved without
much attention to the requirements for security, governance and control
of how these tools are utilized. Although organizations have heavily
invested in securing access to the network and its data to safeguard
valuable information from hijack, theft or unauthorized access, the
portable network analyzer has emerged as the overlooked security
“black-hole” that essentially bypasses all established security
mechanisms or policies without detection. Assuming a person can
physically connect to the network, portable protocol analyzers have
typically had full, uncontrolled access to network traffic traversing
the wire – until now.
The NetScout Sniffer Global solution addresses this widely overlooked
security risk by integrating the portable protocol analyzer into a
policy-based, secure operating environment that is governed and
controlled from a central authentication server. Combining desktop
analysis software with a centralized control server and pre-defined
policies, Sniffer Global controls what network data a portable analyzer
user has access to, and how deeply they can access and analyze network
traffic or data. Sniffer Global offers seamless user reporting that
provides a comprehensive audit trail of all users’ activities –
detailing who has accessed the network, what they have accessed and/or
monitored, and what functions or analysis was performed on the data
accessed – representing a truly unprecedented level of visibility into
how the portable protocol analysis tool has been used.
“Since the early days of TCP/IP networks, the traditional ‘go to’ tool
that network managers use to troubleshoot and resolve problems has
always been the portable protocol analyzer,” said Debra Curtis, research
vice president at Gartner, Inc. “However, the protocol analyzer’s
ability to look into the payload of network packets may unwittingly
expose an enterprise to security risks. With today’s emphasis on
corporate compliance and audit oversight, customers are looking for ways
to protect the integrity of their networks by monitoring, reporting and
controlling access to potentially confidential network data.”
With its advanced protocol analysis features and enterprise-class
flexibility and security, Sniffer Global is a complement to the
end-to-end NetScout nGenius Performance Solution – providing a portable
solution that is ideal for use in network and application development
and deployment and is optimized for use by field service and support
teams, at branch offices and remote or temporary locations.
Extending its enterprise-class capabilities, Sniffer Global delivers
best-in-class decodes and expert analysis that combine the range of
capabilities of both nGenius and Sniffer technology for faster local
analysis across the broadest range of network and application protocols.
In addition, Sniffer Global provides support for both wired 10/100/1000
Ethernet and wireless 802.11 a/b/g/n networks with consistent operation
and functionality from the same software helping to reduce desktop tool
clutter while greatly accelerating problem resolution.
Sniffer Global also eases the management of enterprise-wide deployments
by simplifying the process for updating the IT workforce’s laptops by
enabling users to determine if software updates are available from
anywhere they may be connected. With a single-click, users can quickly
update their local software versions and obtain the most current levels
of decode and expert capabilities from the central server. The server
tracks which user has updated their software and which software version
is running on each authorized user’s laptop – easing and streamlining
the management of enterprise-wide deployments and helping to lower the
total cost of ownership of portable protocol analysis tools.
“With tens of thousands of users globally, Sniffer Portable technology
has become the de facto standard for portable protocol analysis. The
introduction of Sniffer Global represents a highly innovative approach
to the next generation of portable protocol analysis tools,” said Steven
Shalita, vice president of marketing, NetScout Systems. “The evolution
of Sniffer technology not only represents our continued commitment to
the evolution of NetScout and former Network General technologies, it
directly addresses the continuing need for securing access to corporate
networks and the sensitive data they carry. The introduction of Sniffer
Global delivers the first enterprise-class portable network analysis
solution that enables IT organizations to immediately plug the ‘black
hole’ of portable analyzers with end-to-end governance and
accountability for how portable network analysis tools are used.”
Availability
Sniffer Global is available now and is available in either an
enterprise-wide license with unlimited users or as a 10-user licensed
deployment. Existing users of the Network General Sniffer Portable
software can easily upgrade their deployments to gain the benefits of
Sniffer Global and may be eligible for special upgrade offers. Please
contact NetScout or your NetScout authorized reseller for more
information.
About NetScout Systems
NetScout Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTCT) is the industry leader in advanced
network, application and service delivery management solutions. For over
twenty years, NetScout has delivered breakthrough technology solutions
that provide trusted, comprehensive real-time and historical performance
intelligence, including advanced early warnings and rapid, definitive
problem analysis. These capabilities have become vital, and increasingly
strategic, to IT organizations. The world’s largest enterprises,
government agencies, and service providers depend upon NetScout nGenius
solutions to assure service delivery to their users by preventing
disruptions and degradations. More information about NetScout Systems is
available at http://www.netscout.com.
NetScout, the NetScout logo, Network General, the Network General logo,
nGenius and Sniffer are trademarks or registered trademarks of NetScout
Systems, Inc. Other brands, product names and trademarks are property of
their respective owners. NetScout reserves the right, at its sole
discretion, to make changes at any time in its technical information and
specifications, and service and support programs.
Source: NetScout Systems, Inc.
NetScout Systems, Inc.
Christine Johansen, 978-614-4113
Manager,
Public Relations
johansenc@netscout.com
or
Davies
Murphy Group, Inc.
Rob Morton, 781-418-2460
netscout@daviesmurphy.com