Cisco Systems is to release a new device, known as the Adaptive Security Appliance 5500, which will apparently amalgamate 18 different security and network management functions into a single machine. Functions such as detection of intruders, prevention of denial-of-service attacks, protection from spyware and adware, and network traffic micro-inspection are currently available in a range of different Cisco products, but the firm intends the new Adaptive Security Appliance 5500 to handle all of them. The move should be welcomed by enterprises with limited space to store such devices, helping them to maximize square footage.
The ASA 5500 products, which Continental Airlines has been testing, are expected to be available in May. They'll range in price from about $3,500 to $17,000, said Jayshree Ullal, senior vice president of Cisco's security technology group.