Pacific Internet delivers SMBs enterprise-level broadband, security

Enterprise Networks & Servers, Sep 2005

Pacific Internet (Australia), part of the Asia Pacific's largest telco-independent Internet communications service provider (ICSP) by geographic reach, is offering Australia's first managed end-toend IP connectivity and security service to small- and medium-size businesses (SMBs) based on the Cisco Integrated Services Router.

The service features Internet security at an accessible price level for SMBs, allowing them to benefit from the operating efficiencies available through Internet technologies.

The Pacific Internet service, named PacNet SecureSite, delivers affordable connectivity and security features in one managed solution, providing a level of service previously only available to the enterprise market. Pacific Internet (pacific.net.au) will offer customers the Cisco 800 and 1800 series integrated services routers as customer premises devices, providing a range of security services which reduce the amount of work and maintenance customers have to perform. The Cisco integrated services routers security services include enterprise-grade stateful inspection firewalling and an inline intrusion protection system with dynamic signature updates to help ensure that customer networks are protected from the latest known malicious attacks.

Additional security options will be added to Pacific Internet's service to include: embedded virtual private network (VPN) encryption and acceleration hardware supporting IPSec Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and Triple Data Encryption Standard (3DES). Cisco integrated services routers also support Cisco IOS software security, designed to protect the complete Cisco router portfolio for pervasive security throughout the network, Network Admission Control (NAC) and URL filtering and support for Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)based VPNs or VPNs utilizing IPSec AES and 3DES high-speed encryption.

Having worked closely with Cisco Systems for several years, Pacific Internet undertook six months of intensive trials and testing to identify products that were appropriate for both their smallest and largest clients among their 20,000-strong small- to medium-sized business customer base. The decision to implement Cisco integrated services routers was made easier because these products are scalable, allowing SMBs to more efficiently manage their Internet connectivity as their business needs change and grow.

Pacific Internet's bundled SMB offering, incorporating the Cisco Integrated Services Router capabilities, will constantly monitor and manage customer's networks. For set-up and ongoing network management, customers receive pre-configured Cisco integrated services routers and can contact the Pacific Internet's technical team to change their router configurations. In the event of a network outage or security breach the solution's round-theclock monitoring means that clients can be notified via e-mail and SMS, reducing network downtime.