NCSA teams with Internet Security Systems to certify Firewalls Internet Scanner chosen as audit fool for Firewall Vendor Certification Program

Business Wire, Nov 6, 1995

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 6, 1995--The National Computer Security Association (NCSA), an organization dedicated to improving computer and information security, has selected Internet Security Systems' comprehensive audit tool, Internet Scanner, to help define testing criteria to ensure that Internet firewalls live up to their promise of protecting corporate computer networks from unwanted access and attacks via the Internet.

The NCSA will use Internet Scanner to test and certify commercially available Internet firewall products, which are designed to precisely define, control and limit access to "internal" computers from "outside" computers across a network. The Firewall Certification Program will be invaluable to network managers who evaluate firewall products, providing a standard by which to compare the effectiveness of various commercial firewalls and offering third-party verification of the claims made by firewall vendors.

"Internet Security Systems' expertise in finding network vulnerabilities will facilitate our effort to thoroughly evaluate firewalls," said Bob Bales, executive director of the NCSA. "We are confident that our relationship with ISS will ensure the success of our firewall vendor certification program."

"ISS is pleased the NCSA has chosen to utilize Internet Scanner as its auditing tool of choice," said Christopher Klaus, CEO and founder of Internet Security Systems and a leading security expert. "We will continue to integrate the most comprehensive and up-to-date network scanning technology into Internet Scanner, adding test support for new security vulnerabilities into the product as soon as they are discovered."

Since its introduction in 1991, Internet Scanner has gained widespread acceptance in the market as the number one tool for analyzing the security of computer networks. The product, which is constantly being improved, offers advanced technology that searches enterprise networks connected to the Internet, enabling network administrators to find the weaknesses in their networks before hackers do.

"The security risks of connecting corporate networks to the Internet are very real," said MacDonnell Ulsch, vice president and chief analyst of Dataquest. "Internet Scanner is a product that truly enables network managers to see their networks as hackers do, in terms of vulnerabilities, and then correct any deficiencies before a hacker penetrates that system. By staking its reputation on the ability of this product to expose weaknesses in vendors' firewall products, the NCSA demonstrates the credibility of Internet Scanner."

About the NCSA

NCSA is the nation's leading membership organization providing educational materials, training, testing and expert systems to improve computer and information security, reliability and ethics. NCSA has more than 1600 corporate members who represent a wide range of commercial, government and vendor organizations. For more information about the NCSA please contact Stephen Sands at (717) 258-1816. NCSA maintains a Home Page on the World Wide Web at http://ncsa.com.

About Internet Security Systems

Internet Security Systems, located in Atlanta, specializes in the development of a suite of security scanning software tools. Its flagship product, Internet Scanner, was the first scanning software of its kind. Internet Scanner learns an organization's network and probes each network device for security holes. It is the most comprehensive `attack simulator' available, checking for over 120 security vulnerabilities.

For more information about ISS or its products please contact the company at 770-441-2531. ISS can be reached electronically by sending e-mail to iss@iss.net. ISS maintains a Home Page on the World Wide Web at: http://iss.net. Internet Scanner lets you find your network security holes before the hackers do. -0- EDITOR'S NOTE:

NCSA is a registered trademark of the National Computer Security Association. All other registered trademarks and trademarks herein are property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Internet Security Systems

Tom Noonan, (770) 441-2531

or

Copithorne & Bellows

Kelly Hopkins or Scott Laird, (770) 392-8611