Top Layer Security, a leading global provider of Network Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS), announced today the availability of the newest models of its IPS 5500 E-Series family. The fourth-generation EC-Series leverages Top Layer’s proven IPS and attack mitigation software running on leading-edge multicore processor technology from Tilera to provide the broadest protection against network threats, ultra-high performance, unmatched reliability, and future expansion capabilities.

“The new Top Layer IPS 5500 EC-Series appliances demonstrate the company’s commitment to providing their customers with long-term investment protection. The innovative new EC-Series platform provides the proven Top Layer IPS interface and integrates seamlessly into our existing IPS management command & control infrastructure. We are particularly excited about the new cost-effective remote site optimized Model 75EC, which provides us with same enterprise-class IPS protection and reliability we enjoy at our data centers at our many remote sites throughout the US and Canada,” stated Charles Neely Harper, Director – National Supply and Pipeline Operations, Air Liquide Large Industries U.S. LP.

According to Gartner, “More than 40% of organizations name IPS, patch management, DLP, antivirus and identity management among the top five security priorities for 2010. Almost half of organizations include intrusion prevention systems (IPSs) in their project portfolios.”1

The IPS 5500 EC-Series provides protection against current and future network-borne cyber threats by combining Top Layer’s TopResponse™ threat protection update service, high-performance, purpose-built IPS platforms, and real-time management and reporting capabilities. Top Layer’s new IPS 5500 EC-Series offers significant advantages:

• IPS Investment Protection: Hot-standby ‘Tile’ processors provide reserve capacity for future features and functionality while utilizing the same E-Series management software so existing customers have no need to re-train staff on the new solution.
• Unmatched Reliability: Mean-Time Between Failures (MTBF) for the EC-Series is over 30 years, more than four times the MTBF rating of competing IPS solutions, resulting in longer hardware life and longer-term investment benefit. Built-in Zero-Power Bypass ensures “always up” network availability.
• Blazing Performance: Top Layer has harnessed the power of Tilera’s multicore processors, which deliver the world’s highest performance computing for network security applications.
• Reduced Power Consumption: the EC-Series consumes only 90W, 45-70% less power than competing IPS solutions, lowering data center operating costs.

For existing IPS 5500 customers, upgrading to the EC-Series is seamless, as the Top Layer algorithms and management software are the same ones they currently use – customers maintain the user experience they are familiar with while benefiting from a new 4th-generation IPS solution. New customers can acquire the EC-Series IPS by taking advantage of Top Layer’s Free IPS Appliance Program, enjoying improved threat protection and dramatically reduced total cost of ownership (TCO) compared to other leading IPS solutions.

Mike Paquette, Chief Strategy Officer, Top Layer Security said, “Companies are turning to IPS as a top security priority in 2010, and we are committed to developing the most innovative solutions for customers to protect their critical on-line assets against network-borne cyber threats. The combination of our IPS protection capabilities, proven in thousands of customer deployments worldwide, and our powerful new Tilera multicore platform provides organizations with the capacity to fight today’s cyber threats while protecting their IPS investments for tomorrow.”

The EC-Series includes four models to address enterprise-wide deployment scenarios:

• IPS 1000EC: engineered for large data centers and central sites
• IPS 500EC: designed for smaller data centers
• IPS 150EC: ideal for larger non-central sites
• IPS 75EC: cost-effective model optimized for enterprise remote-site deployments

For more information, please visit http://www.toplayer.com/ec.jsp or call +1-978-212-1500 for pricing and additional details.

About Top Layer Security

Top Layer Security is a leading global provider of Network Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) that enables enterprise organizations to protect their critical on-line assets against risks associated with cyber threats. Top Layer Security is headquartered in Massachusetts, USA with sales and services support worldwide.

All trademarks, trade names, service marks, and logos referenced herein belong to their respective companies.

1 Gartner 2010 Update: What Organizations are Spending on IT Security, March 2010

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