Computerworld

IBM outpoints Cisco at Internal Affairs

IBM's intrusion prevention and detection system top-scores for management and server monitoring
  • Rob O'Neill (Unknown Publication)
  • 12 April, 2010 22:00

The Department of Internal Affairs, which operates the Government Technology Service, is preparing to implement IBM's Proventia software for intrusion prevention and detection.

The department has gone to market for the provision of hardware, software and training for a system, but has already evaluated four products and states its preference for IBM's Proventia, according to tender documents.

The department evaluated IBM, Cisco, Enterasys and McAfee products, with IBM appearing to blitz the field, scoring 388 points to Cisco's 284, Enterasys's 202 and McAfee's 196.

While most products scored well on certification and on having network sensor technology, Proventia scored much better in DIA's evaluation for server sensing and only Cisco came close for management.

Gareth Taylor, a systems engineer with Cisco New Zealand, says, without having access to the full evaluation test methodology and criteria he can’t comment on the DIA findings.

"However, I can say that Cisco continues to lead the overall IDS/IPS market and bring true innovations to market, such as our unique 'Global Correlation' feature in IPS release 7.0, leveraging the same reputation database as our market leading Web & Email security appliances."

Cisco's products have also been recognised in industry awards, most recently by SC Magazine, he says.

DIA's Intrusion Detection and Prevention System (IDPS) will "enhance the department’s core operational security and provide a greater level of assurance to the New Zealand Government and public that the department’s systems and networks are safe from the risk of abuse and attack both internally and externally", a tender document says.

IDPS will allow the department to: monitor core networks for suspicious events; monitor core systems for suspicious events; correlate events and raise alerts where appropriate; provide reporting, and; provide training to its operation staff.