IBM has introduced a security appliance it claims will help identify and prevent threats without hampering corporate network speeds.
Big Blue unwrapped its Network Intrusion Protection System GX7800 at the RSA Conference in the US. The appliance works at 20Gbps, which IBM claims is almost twice as fast as competing products.
The appliance incorporates a range of IBM security products, including Rational AppScan, which can identify specific vulnerabilities affecting web applications and then automatically apply security policies.
Businesses can either choose to run the appliance on their own or let IBM Managed Services take control.
Firms will also be able to enjoy the backing of X-Force research, which provides information on potentially dangerous threats. Once a threat has been identified as problematic, the Virtual Patch' protection in the IBM appliance will move to issue a fix before the software publisher even publishes its own patch.
"As threats continue to grow - both in and outside of an organizations four walls - businesses must take the right steps to protect critical assets without disrupting network performance," said Steve Robinson, general manager of IBM's security solutions division.
"With the new appliance, IBM is helping enterprise clients operate their business at full speed, in a secure and efficient environment."
Elsewhere at the RSA conference, Qualys initiated its open source firewall project.
