Features - Storage Innovations:

HP/BROCADE EXTEND ENTERPRISE SECURITY TO GROWING SAN FABRICS

HP has introduced the HP StorageWorks Secure Fabric OS, a security software tool from Brocade Communications Systems Inc, for B-series 1-gigabyte and 2-gigabyte storage area network (SAN) environments. Enabling users to tailor SAN fabric security to meet specific business requirements, the new tool marks a milestone in HP's focus on the B-series Fibre Channel market.

With storage networking becoming the accepted standard for enterprise storage consolidation, more users are creating large-scale SANs that contain increased volumes of business-critical data. Regardless of the current enterprise security infrastructure in place, customers need to defend their storage networks from potential intrusion and the threat of user or configuration error. HP StorageWorks Secure Fabric OS enables configuration integrity through enhanced change management features.

HP also announced the shipment of its millionth Brocade port, an achievement that highlights the companies' joint efforts as pioneers in the SAN industry.

"As customers build out their adaptive enterprises, they need to be sure that their network storage foundation is secure and we are excited to see our relationship with Brocade deliver a product to address these requirements," said Roger Archibald, vice president, HP Infrastructure and Network Attached Storage Division. "With the trend of SANs moving into the heart of the enterprise network, customers are seeing the need to harden the security of their SANs. HP StorageWorks Secure Fabric OS helps deliver protection from unauthorized access and corruption through change control management."

Working in conjunction with HP OpenView Storage Area Manager and HP StorageWorks Fabric Manager, HP StorageWorks Secure Fabric OS is the only security product that offers centralized management of SAN security policies for management and device access, helping to ensure more predictable change management, assured configuration integrity and reduced risk of downtime due to intentional intrusion or simple human error.

The HP Secure Fabric OS supports the entire B-series HP StorageWorks SAN switch family, which is built by Brocade as the SilkWorm fabric switch product family.

A Brocade SAN fabric with HP StorageWorks Secure Fabric OS assures that only authorized users can take management actions on the fabric and that only authorized servers, storage or switches can be added. The tool protects the SAN by using the strongest, enterprise-class security methods available, including digital certificates and digital signatures, multiple levels of password protection, encryption of management information such as passwords, public key infrastructure based authentication, and 1,024-bit encryption of the switch's private key used for digital signatures.

"Today's announcement is a natural extension of our long-standing partnership with HP and our strategy to deliver storage solutions that are highly available, scalable, manageable and secure," said Tom Buiocchi, vice president of marketing, Brocade. "Brocade's Secure Fabric OS is an industry first that complements and extends HP's enterprise security products and practices, allowing customers to gain ever better change management and configuration integrity in their growing SAN environments."

HP has traditionally provided enterprise security services and has implemented storage security functionality such as "Selective Storage Presentation" in arrays and "Zoning" for fabric. HP StorageWorks Secure Fabric OS extends enterprise security to the storage network and is part of HP's continuing security focus.

HP also introduced an installation and startup service for StorageWorks Secure Fabric OS that provides essential planning and design assistance to ensure initial SAN fabric security. Configuration activities include setting up the fabric configuration server, management access controls, device connections controls, switch connection controls and secure management.

HP has the largest base of SAN expertise in the industry, with 5,000 storage service professionals worldwide and the largest team of Brocade-certified engineers. HP StorageWorks Secure Fabric OS solutions employ the most tested and utilized aspects of security in the industry.

About HP

HP delivers vital technology for business and life. The company's solutions span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing for consumers, enterprises and small and medium business. For the last four quarters, HP revenue totaled $70.4 billion. More information about HP is available at www.hp.com.