SCOTTS VALLEY, CA -- (October 2, 2007) – Catbird Security (www.catbird.com), provider of the industry’s only fully-hosted, enterprise-class, managed security platform and developer of the Catbird V-Agent™ security appliance, today announced the launch of Pocket V-Agent, the first pocket-sized comprehensive security solution. Pocket V-Agent is the simplest path to a fully-hosted, thorough network security assessment and enterprise-grade audit in the marketplace today. Ideal for security consultants, auditors and managed security providers, Pocket V-Agent runs from a USB thumb-drive and delivers remote, comprehensive network security assessments with single-click installation and zero additional hardware. By simply connecting the Pocket V-Agent into any PC, the user instantly has a certified virtual security appliance capable of network monitoring for security assessment, inspection, and data protection.
Pocket V-Agent combines Catbird’s unique security-as-a-service architecture with VMware’s Pocket ACE® virtual machine player. The Pocket ACE technology automatically detects the OS platform and launches the Catbird V-Agent without any need for human intervention.
“Pocket V-Agent challenges established industry assumptions about enterprise-class security. To have this much protection in such a compact form factor is a ground-breaking step,” said Michael Berman, Catbird CTO. “At Catbird, we have demonstrated for years that the real value of a security offering is locked in the service, not the hardware. Pocket V-agent makes this case more strongly than ever. Now, security analysis and protection can be performed instantly from anywhere, at any time, with complete effectiveness – and real convenience – independent of hardware.”
Pocket V-Agent offers valuable, unique features to IT security professionals on many levels. For the novice or non-security business professional, it allows for extremely easy deployment, requiring only the insertion of a USB memory stick. For auditors, instant data on the security posture of a network or data center is as portable and as accessible as a USB stick in a pocket. For security and IT administrators, Pocket V-Agent reduces the cost of periodic or continuous network protection, as any existing hardware can be immediately converted into a sophisticated security appliance which traditionally would cost tens of thousands of dollars. Pocket V-Agent provides real-time data on vulnerabilities; IPS/IDS; policy compliance and unauthorized user monitoring, saving customers from the financial, reputational, data and productivity losses resulting from security breaches. Pocket V-Agent can monitor both physical and virtual networks.
The Pocket V-Agent is free and licensed with Catbird’s monthly Security As A Service, available from any authorized Catbird partner.
Pocket V-Agent is the pocket-sized version of the Catbird V-Agent virtual appliance, the first comprehensive security solution for virtual networks which was launched by the company in June 2007. V-Agent is known for delivering broad hacker protection to virtual networks, and for the first time enabling rogue virtual-device monitoring, Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), security compliance, and vulnerability monitoring to servers running multiple virtual machines based on VMware. It monitors virtual segments within a host as well as physical network segments connected to the host.
The VMware-certified Catbird V-Agent virtual appliance delivers the operational flexibility that is a hallmark of virtual infrastructure. Unlike traditional host-based solutions, stateful appliances and proprietary hardware solutions, Catbird’s unique stateless “in-the-cloud” architecture is 100% plug-and-play for both physical and virtual environments.
More information about Pocket V-Agent, Catbird’s V-Agent, and Catbird can be found at the company’s website, www.catbird.com.
About Catbird
Catbird provides the industry’s only fully-hosted managed security platform enabling its global partners to deliver enterprise-grade hacker protection that is cost-effective for businesses of all sizes. Founded in 2000 by Internet pioneer Ron Lachman, the company’s in-the-cloud architecture protects thousands of customer systems and networks who rely on Catbird and its partners to protect their valuable IT assets from external and internal threats. Catbird gives customers confidence in the security and performance of the Web and network services. The company delivers completely non-invasive Web Security and Network Admission Control (NAC) through its unique Catbird Security-as-a-Service™ model. In addition to “zero-touch” enterprise-grade security, Catbird customers receive reports that are critical to managing their information technology and compliance with industry regulations. The private company is based in Silicon Valley, and is currently recruiting new partners and resellers.
