3Com and TippingPoint at a turning point

Product Test and Buyer's Guide This newsletter is sponsored by SolarWinds The Shortcut Guide to Network Management for the Mid-Market This guide outlines real-world technologies and processes to implement centralized management of your network infrastructure. Using the OSI FCAPS model as a framework, this eBook explains the critical components of fault, performance, configuration and security management, as well as network troubleshooting and diagnostics. Product Test and Buyer's Guide, 07/05/07 By Christine Burns Networking gear maker 3Com announced late last week that it has plans to spin off security subsidiary TippingPoint in an IPO of stock before the end of the calendar year. 3Com initially bought the Austin-based start-up – which was making significant headway in the then new Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) market -- for $430 million in early 2005 as a means of giving it some security clout as it attempted to grow its menu of networking gear slated for use in large business networks. In 2006, 3Com announced a chassis-based TippingPoint IPS product that was supposed to offer customers the ability to consolidate IPS and high-speed LAN switching in one box. Interestingly enough, 3Com has changed its tune in the wake of a fourth-quarter net loss of $66 million on revenue of $311 million. Compare Products with Network World's VoIP and Convergence Buyer's Guide From deployable IP-PBX systems to unified messaging, Network World has detailed information on hundreds of products. Side-by-side comparisons along with objective test and review results make it quick and easy to find the solutions that are right for your enterprise. Click here to find out more. "We believe this move will let 3Com and TippingPoint focus on their core strengths, target markets and strategic goals," said Edgar Masri, 3Com's president and CEO, in a statement. "The decision to IPO TippingPoint enables 3Com to focus more closely on its core business -- delivering integrated, secure, converged network infrastructure solutions to enterprises and increasing H3C [Huawei-3Com joint venture] sales worldwide.” TippingPoint’s 5000E system topped the pack of IPS products tested in our most recent Clear Choice Test in that category conducted last summer. The TippingPoint press folks also tried to get in on our all-in-one NAC product test (results slated to be published later the month), but missed the deadline for submission. We’ve not heard much more on its plans to expand into that very hot security realm, but perhaps we will under the new management. In the meantime, you can check out how TippingPoint’s IPS compares feature by feature with 40 other IPS products on the market in the Network World IPS Buyer’s Guide.

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Contact the author: Christine Burns is the Executive Editor of Testing. She can be reached at cburns@nww.com This newsletter is sponsored by SolarWinds The Shortcut Guide to Network Management for the Mid-Market This guide outlines real-world technologies and processes to implement centralized management of your network infrastructure. Using the OSI FCAPS model as a framework, this eBook explains the critical components of fault, performance, configuration and security management, as well as network troubleshooting and diagnostics. BONUS FEATURE IT PRODUCT RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Get detailed information on thousands of products, conduct side-by-side comparisons and read product test and review results with Network World’s IT Buyer’s Guides. Find the best solution faster than ever with over 100 distinct categories across the security, storage, management, wireless, infrastructure and convergence markets. Click here for details. PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered to your inbox each day. Extend your knowledge with a print subscription to the Network World newsweekly, Apply here today. International subscribers, click here. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. This message was sent to: security.world@gmail.com. Please use this address when modifying your subscription. Advertising information: Write to Associate Publisher Online Susan Cardoza Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2007