Qwest Unveils 40 Mbps Downstream, 20 Mbps Upstream High-Speed Internet Service

5 Mbps Upstream for $5 Available to Qualifying Customers with 7 Mbps, 12 Mbps, 20 Mbps Service

DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Qwest Communications (NYSE:Q) has introduced the next evolution of its high-speed Internet services, delivering downstream connection speeds of 40 Mbps and upstream speeds of 20 Mbps*. more

Integration flexibility and unique authentication features help USD deliver secure wireless access

Santa Clara, Calif. - July 20, 2009 – Avenda Systems, the innovator in identity-aware network security, announced that the University of San Diego has selected its eTIPS solution as the key component in the university’s innovative campus-wide network access security initiative. USD has successfully deployed secure, differentiated wireless guest access, enabled by Avenda’s eTIPS platform and self-registration module, in time for the summer rush of conferences and guest activity on campus.

“We looked at a number of competing guest access solutions that could not offer the level of security and access features that we required,” said Doug Burke, IT Director at USD. “My team did a fantastic job working with Avenda to put together a wireless access solution based on identity. This is a big win for us, since it was very easy to implement and customize, and meets all our requirements and standards for web access.”

As part of USD’s timeline, a full calendar of summer camps, conferences and events meant USD had to meet a tight development timeframe to provide wireless access to its on-campus guests. Avenda’s eTIPS was selected as it uniquely authorizes network access based on a user’s identity. It supports USD’s entire wireless network infrastructure, as well as users’ various computing platforms. In addition, Avenda’s solution provided the ability to offer self-registration and payment or promo code payment options. According to university officials, it was a major requirement for the solution to remove the IT team from the account creation process, and integrate with USD’s existing CASHNet PCI compliant payment tool to provide a real-time means of verifying the identity of campus visitors.

“The Avenda product is exceptionally easy to use and deploy, it provides good classification between users, and delivers amazing reporting tools,” Burke continued. “Users tell us that the new portal is very logical and easy to walk through. As an added bonus, we no longer receive calls that there’s a problem using wireless guest access.”

The initial engagement between USD and Avenda was prompted by Avenda’s attractive Migration Program. The new solution from Avenda replaces a previously purchased platform from Identity Engines, now part of Nortel Networks. Besides offering a platform trade-in allowance, Avenda provided complimentary policy assessment and deployment assistance.

Avenda’s solution easily integrates with USD’s existing Aruba Wireless Controllers, which is important due to a move to 802.1X network access control. USD also plans on integrating Avenda into their Cisco switched network later this summer as future plans include extending guest access to USD’s wired network and implementing port-based switch security.

“USD’s requirements and phased deployment are a classic example of how our product can satisfy immediate network security and access needs,” said Krishna Prabhakar, CEO of Avenda Systems. “And along the process, customers are finding new ways to leverage our flexible architecture and policy model.”

The eTIPS solution is comprised of a hardened network appliance, a flexible policy platform, GuestConnect and Microsoft NAP health agents. It is the only access control solution that centrally manages policies across access methods, operating systems, managed and unmanaged endpoints, and existing identity stores.

About Avenda

Avenda Systems introduced the industry’s first multi-function platform for network access security that breaks through past deployment barriers – complexity, compatibility, compliance and cost. Avenda’s flagship eTIPS solution is a scalable AAA platform that utilizes identity-based policies for access control, endpoint health and device authorization for wired, wireless and VPN networks in multi-vendor environments. Further information: www.avendasys.com