“Using the Network Critical TAPs is simplicity itself.”-- Ken Mann, Network Security Manager, PITO
Customer Profile - Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) of the United Kingdom was created in 1998 to deliver state-of-the-art information technology to the police and other branches of the criminal justice system to combat modern-day crime. Specifically, PITO's aim is to reduce crime and to administer justice more effectively by providing information and communication technology solutions, either directly or through contracts with suppliers. The organisation also has a role across other areas of policing, including major civil emergencies such as terror attacks, train crashes or floods.
Vendor Profile - Established in 1997, Network Critical has grown to become the market leading designer and manufacturer of network access solutions for the security and network management marketplace, offering customers flexible deployment options to maximise their capital investment. Network Critical has a reputation for leading the industry with technological advances in TAP (test access point) solutions. Network Critical's many “firsts” include the 100% guaranteed 'zero packet loss' TAP, the 4x4 port 1U rack mount Critical TAP, the multi-port Fiber TAP and the introduction of the Critical In-line TAP. More recently, Network Critical has introduced the powerful CriticalConnex™ CC3100 TAP, which allows a gigabit network tool to passively monitor four 10/100 network links - even at maximum utilisation of all links, it won't drop a single packet.
Customer Needs
• Invisible IDS solution
• Ease of deployment
• Easy network access point
• Seen to be secure
• Easily maintained solution
Solution Components
• Critical 10/100 TAPs
• Critical 100/1000 Combination TAPs
• Checkpoint Firewall
• IDS Probes
• Network Sniffers
Results
• Secured the network
• Monitor Firewall status
• Flexible solution
• Public confidence in security policies
Background
When formulating its network security strategy, PIT0 decided that the option of using SPAN ports was simply not viable, due to the potential of packet loss, coupled with the possibility of introducing a single point of failure. Since one of the key requirements for the organisation was to implement a flexible solution that allowed them to gain immediate access to the network, the decision was taken that ‘Tapping Technology’ should be utilised as part of the solution. As a result, NITO selected Network Critical TAPs as the key facilitator within the overall internal IDS deployment.
Security by Obscurity
As a non Departmental Public Body, it is very important that PITO are seen by the public to be secure and this need led them to select a solution that allowed for not only the simple deployment of their chosen security application, but one that was also none intrusive and easily maintained. It was also vital that the security solution remained “invisible” to potential threats. In choosing Critical 10/100 and 100/1000 TAPs, PITO was able to match all their specific criteria and gain what is described by the organisation as “security by obscurity”.
Simplicity Itself
When asked about the immediate benefits of using Critical TAPs, Ken Mann, Network Security Manager for PITO, said, “By integrating TAPs into the network’s perimeter points at an early stage, we have gained maximum flexibility in connecting security devices without disrupting the smooth running of the services we provide to our users. Using them is simplicity itself.”
Looking to the future, the organisation has selected a range of Critical Gigabit TAPs to match both the current and future capabilities of the IDS solution as it is deployed into other areas of the business.
As summarized by Alastair Hartrup, Managing Director of Network Critical Solutions, “The early adoption of Critical TAPs by PITO as part of their IDS deployment has not only highlighted the flexibility of the products but also the many associated benefits enjoyed by Network Critical customers.”
Editor's Note: For more information on comparing SPAN ports and TAPs, read Tim O'Neill's popular post.
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