Palo Alto Networks' Next-Generation Firewalls Enhance Network Security for Texas A&M University

Online, October 7, 2009 (Newswire.com) - SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 7, 2009 - Palo Alto Networks™, the leader in next-generation firewalls, today announced that Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG) has deployed Palo Alto Networks' next-generation firewalls for improved network security and control, while consolidating its network. TAMUG houses the Texas Maritime Academy, which is one of six state maritime academies in the U.S. preparing graduates as officers in the United States Merchant Marine.

According to John Kovacevich, systems analyst, the university was previously using products such as a network scanning device and a packet shaping device, which proved more expensive and less functional than Palo Alto Networks' firewalls. In consolidating their network infrastructure, TAMUG is saving money while more thoroughly blocking viruses and spyware, and prioritizing E-learning and business applications on its network.

"In addition to upgrading our threat protection infrastructure, we needed to regulate the bandwidth that the residence halls were using to ensure that bandwidth is available for our learning and business needs," said Kovacevich. "Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewalls are multi-function devices that do more than the other products combined, and give us everything we need."

"Improved security, better visibility and control, and cost reduction are common themes we see in our growing customer base, and Texas A&M University is a great example of an organization upgrading to Palo Alto Networks to realize these goals," said Larry Link, Palo Alto Networks vice president of sales. "With our proven App-ID technology and application visibility and control, Palo Alto Networks is appealing to every organization looking to improve security while simplifying their infrastructure."

Kovacevich added, "Palo Alto Networks not only protects us much better, it is far more affordable than the other solutions. Being a state organization, budgets are tight and we need to do more with less. Palo Alto Networks lets us do that, and makes us more responsible with the money we have."

Palo Alto Networks' next-generation firewalls are the industry's most powerful firewall products, enabling enterprises to see and control applications, users and content - not just ports, IP addresses and packets. This is a critical need for enterprises' management of risk as industry studies continue to show enterprises lack visibility into and control of application traffic due to the outdated functionality of legacy security technology.1 Palo Alto Networks' next-generation firewalls enable enterprises to create granular, business-relevant security policies and safely control new enterprise and consumer applications as business enablers instead of the block-or-nothing approach offered by traditional port-blocking firewalls.

About Palo Alto Networks
Palo Alto Networks™ is the leader in next-generation firewalls, enabling unprecedented visibility and granular policy control of applications and content - by user, not just IP address - at up to 10Gbps with no performance degradation. Based on patent-pending App-ID™ technology, Palo Alto Networks firewalls accurately identify and control applications - regardless of port, protocol, evasive tactic or SSL encryption - and scan content to stop threats and prevent data leakage. Enterprises can for the first time embrace Web 2.0 and maintain complete visibility and control, while significantly reducing total cost of ownership through device consolidation. For more information, please visit http://www.paloaltonetworks.com.

# # #

Note 1 - "Application Usage and Risk Report," Palo Alto Networks, April 20, 2009.

Palo Alto Networks, the Palo Alto Networks Logo and App-ID are trademarks of Palo Alto Networks, Inc. in the United States. All other trademarks, trade names or service marks used or mentioned herein belong to their respective owners.