Astaro Security Linux

Astaro Rolls out Version 5 of Astaro Security Linux

Addition of Network Intrusion Protection combines
intrusion detection with intrustion prevention
technology and fills out comprehensive Open
Source-based Security Product
 	
BURLINGTON, Mass – March 18, 2004 (CeBIT Fairs Hanover
Germany) – Astaro Corp. (www.astaro.com), developers of
the most popular Open Source-based security product,
today announced Version 5 of its Astaro Security Linux.
 The perimeter security solution, which protects more
than 20,000 installations in over 60 countries, now
includes Intrusion Protection capabilities that protect
networks against complex attacks, and added Virus
Protection for HTTP and FTP.  Version 5 will also stop
viruses in password-protected zip attachments.
	
Astaro Security Linux is a comprehensive network
security product for midsized to large businesses. It
combines a firewall, VPN gateway, intrusion protection,
virus protection, spam protection and surf protection
(URL filtering). This complete software solution
bundles a hardened Linux operating system that can run
on any x86-compatible hardware, and is also available
as a pre-installed appliance solution.

With Astaro Security Linux V5, Astaro further
demonstrates that a single network security solution
can offer comprehensive protection while remaining easy
to deploy and manage.

NEW - Intrusion Protection
New to Astaro Security Linux V5 is fully integrated
Intrusion Protection. Intrusion Protection combines
both a pattern-recognition intrusion detection, and a
intrusion prevention technology that immediately blocks
attacks when they reach the protected network. 

NEW - HTTP Virus Scanning
Conventional anti-virus gateway products scan emails
that pass through email servers, but provide no
protection when computer users download files and use
web-email from their Internet browsers. Now Astaro
Security Linux added Virus Protection for the Web, and
now has full anti-virus coverage for Email (POP3 and
SMTP) and Web (HTTP and FTP) traffic.

“Astaro was one of the first companies to recognize the
value of an all-in-one network security solution,” said
industry-expert Pete Lindstrom from Spire Security.
“With Astaro Security Linux V5, Astaro demonstrates how
designing an integrated threat management package from
the ground up can increase security while driving down
the cost of security administration. Spire Security
believes that the combination of functionality and ease
of use will help Astaro create a strong place for
itself in the market for integrated security software.”

Additional Enhancements
In Astaro Security Linux V5 the seamlessly-integrated
VPN functionality is augmented by L2TP over IPSec,
which enables clientless native Windows IPSec support. 

Astaro Security Linux V5 can automatically generate and
distribute Astaro IPSec client configurations
eliminating the need for complex manual client
configurations. This more readily enables the mass
distribution of remote VPN clients and minimizes
problems caused by faulty client configurations, making
IPSec VPN as easy to configure as SSL VPN.

Furthermore, version 5 features unified logging and
reporting for easier reporting. Data can be collected,
and, with push-button ease, be evaluated and packaged
into management reports in HTML email format to serve
as documentation. 

Availability and Pricing
Astaro Security Linux V5 will be available on March
31st from Astaro solution partners or by calling (781)
272-8787. Pricing starts at $390 for 10-user licenses.
Spam Protection is a free subscription service.
Intrusion Protection, Virus Protection for Email, Virus
Protection for the Web, and Surf Protection are
optional subscription services.  ASL is an affordable
alternative to high-cost, high-maintenance solutions
such as those offered by Cisco (Nasdaq:CSCO), Check
Point (Nasdaq:CHKP) and NetScreen (Nasdaq:NSCN). The
product is free to home users with special programs for
non-profits and educational institutions. 

About Astaro
Astaro provides a network security solution that is
complete, simple to manage, affordable and effective.
Astaro selects and integrates the best of open source
security software to provide the widest range of
innovative security technology available in a single
package: Astaro Security Linux. Astaro's software has
won numerous awards, and is in use on over 20,000
networks in 60 countries. Astaro Security Linux is
distributed by a worldwide network of solutions
partners who offer local support and services.
(www.astaro.com)
# # #

U.S. Press Contact: 
Victor Cruz
+1 508 785 1590
vcruz@astaro.com

Germany Press Contact:
Heiko Scholz
+49 6451 715105
hscholz@astaro.com