Ensuring the privacy and integrity of all information is vital to today's businesses. As companies use the flexibility and cost effectiveness of the Internet to extend their networks to branch offices, telecommuters, customers, and partners, security is paramount. Not only must organizations protect external communications, but they must help ensure that the information transported across an internal wired and wireless infrastructure remains confidential. Similarly, companies must secure voice and video as they use their existing network infrastructure to provide new business-enhancing services.

The dilemma many businesses now face is how to protect the privacy and integrity of all information while cost-effectively creating a manageable communications infrastructure that will improve productivity, enable new business applications, and enhance business efficiency. Additionally, many companies are mandated by governmental or industry regulations to ensure the privacy of information.

The essential elements to consider on your Network Security approach should be the ones that helps protect the privacy of all information and allows organizations to:

• Control costs and increase flexibility
• Reduce the deployment burden and increase control with centralized management and policy enforcement
• Lower total cost of ownership by using existing infrastructure and knowledge base
• Increase profitability through enhanced productivity and business efficiency.