ProCurve Networking by HP Strengthens Network Security Through Integration with Microsoft NAP Technology

ProCurve Networking by HP today announced with Microsoft a solution to protect networks with open, secure, standards-based interoperability that integrates ProCurve's trusted infrastructure, policy management system and Microsoft's Network Access Protection (NAP) technology.

ProCurve Identity Driven Manager (IDM) policy management tool is now compatible with Microsoft® NAP technology, providing customized network access policies for admission of users and clients across both wired and wireless environments.

"Having ProCurve switches, access points and IDM complement Microsoft's NAP architecture provides customers with robust network security," said Mauricio Sanchez, chief security architect, ProCurve Networking by HP. "Through this integration, ProCurve continues to deliver on its ProActive Defense strategy, which combines access control and network immunity with trusted architecture to defend against potential security threats."

Calvin Choe, director of Technical Business Development in the Enterprise Networking Group at Microsoft, said, "The integration of Microsoft Network Access Protection and ProCurve networking products provides customers with a network security solution to protect their information assets."

ProCurve IDM provides network administrators with the ability to centrally define and apply policy-based network access rights that allow the network to adapt automatically to the needs of users and devices as they connect, thereby enforcing network security while providing appropriate access to network users and devices.

Microsoft® Network Access Protection is a policy enforcement technology built into the Windows Vista® and Windows® Server 2008 operating systems that allows customers to better protect network assets from unhealthy computers by enforcing compliance with network health policies. Microsoft's Network Access Protection technology is available with Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 and will be available with Windows XP SP3.

"ProCurve is making network access control easier to integrate in enterprise networks and the beauty of Microsoft's NAP is in the simplicity of deployment," said Joel Snyder, senior partner at Opus One, a consulting and information services company based in Tucson, Ariz. "ProCurve's IDM integrates cleanly with Microsoft's NAP and provides security without complicating the deployment. Together it's a win-win situation."

Microsoft and ProCurve Networking by HP are longtime collaborators. Their work includes defining the IEEE 802.1X standard and their involvement within the Trusted Computing Group to develop and promote open, vendor-neutral, industry-standard specifications. In addition, HP and Microsoft's relationship includes collaborative product engineering and development that equips customers with high-quality and cost-effective solutions.

"The combination of Microsoft NAP with ProCurve secure networking products provides customers with more choices to select interoperable solutions that improve information security, network resiliency and overall business efficiency," said Greg Huza, Enterprise Systems Consultant at Heartland Business Systems based in Neenah, Wis. "We're extremely excited about the opportunities this opens for us to reach a broader base of customers and increase sales."

About ProCurve Networking by HP

The ProCurve Networking business unit of HP delivers wired and wireless enterprise networking products, services and solutions. The foundation for ProCurve's business model is the Adaptive Networks strategy in which networks are adaptive to users, applications and an organization's needs.

ProCurve was positioned in the Leader quadrant in research and advisory firm Gartner, Inc.'s 2008 Magic Quadrant Report for Global Campus LANs and is No. 2 worldwide in Ethernet switch market revenue according to Dell'Oro Group.

Further information on ProCurve networking solutions, products and lifetime warranty is available at www.procurve.com .

About HP

HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its customers - from individual consumers to the largest businesses. With a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the world's largest IT companies, with revenue totaling $107.7 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended Jan. 31, 2008. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com.

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