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Product
Details
Sprint IP Security ServicesSM are products and services
that help prevent the unauthorized use of networks.
Sprint IP Security Services combine firewall hardware
and software with management services to help businesses
protect their private intranet and Internet access.
There are two main components of a Sprint security system:
advanced firewall performance and token-based authentication.
Sprint also offers two types of security services: Sprint-managed
solutions and customer-managed solutions.
Components
of Security Services
Types of Security
Services
How
Security Services Work
Components
of Security Services
Both Sprint- and customer-managed security services
offer the two main components of a security system:
advanced firewall performance and token-based authentication.
Advanced
Firewall Performance
Encryption
Token-Based
Authentication
Advanced Firewall
Performance
A firewall is a system that operates behind the router
at the point where an internal network connects to the
Internet. The firewall controls which users can gain
access to corporate networks via the Internet, protecting
against hackers and competitive snooping. A firewall
can also control the Internet access granted to internal
users. For example, by not allowing access to certain
types of Web sites, a firewall can enforce policies
on browsing and other Internet use, and can control
bandwidth requirements. Sprint IP Security Services
uses two types of firewalls: the Axent Raptor and the
Check Point FireWall-1.
Firewalls perform the following functions:
- Hide all internal IP addresses
- Prevent unauthorized users from disguising themselves
as valid network entities
- Ensure a safer environment for Internet access
by creating an encrypted tunnel for message packets
and allowing the packets to arrive only at predetermined
destinations, where they are decrypted
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Encryption
Many firewalls also offer encryption software. Encryption
applies an algorithm to data to change its appearance,
making it unreadable for unauthorized recipients. With
Sprint IP Security Services, the Raptor firewall's virtual
private network (VPN) technology encrypts traffic between
firewalls when it's installed on several nodes in the
network. The encryption extends to customers accessing
their network remotely.
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section
Token-Based
Authentication
Authentication identifies network and system users
to prevent unauthorized access. Authentication tokens
are cards that constantly generate new means of verifying
the identity of a user who logs into a computer or network.
They are attached to any workstation terminal or laptop
and work with a server and software that has been integrated
into the firewall. Sprint offers the SecureID token
from Security Dynamics.
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Types
of Security Services
Sprint offers two types of security services: one managed
by Sprint and one managed by the customer.
Solutions Managed
by Sprint
Solutions
Managed by Customers
Solutions Managed
by Sprint
Businesses can outsource the management of their security
solution. For businesses that choose this option, Sprint
provides the firewall hardware and software and handles
all implementation, administration, maintenance, and
management:
- Complete network security design and implementation,
with on-site consulting from a security expert
- All firewall hardware and software delivered as
a turnkey solution
- 24 x 7 firewall administration and monitoring for
suspicious activity
- Nightly backup and vulnerability scans
- Software and hardware maintenance, repair, and upgrade
- Monthly use and exception reporting
Choose from two Sprint service options:
- Firewall-Level 1 – Sprint designs,
implements, and manages the firewall hardware and software;
provides weekly backups; and processes customer-requested
changes in 24 hours. It is a good solution if a business
wants firewall protection for Internet traffic only.
- Firewall-Level 2 – Sprint designs,
implements, and manages hardware and software for firewall
and user-authentication services. Sprint also provides
monitoring and customer notification of security incidents;
processes customer changes in two hours; provides
monthly status reports; maintains, repairs, and upgrades
hardware and software; and provides nightly backups.
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Solutions
Managed by Customers
If a business has the expertise and capability to manage
its own firewalls, it may want to consider managing
its own security solution. Sprint provides implementation
and support to help the business choose the right firewalls:
- Complete network security design and implementation,
with on-site consulting from a security expert
- All firewall hardware and software delivered as
a turnkey solution
- Hardware and software installation
- Hardware maintenance and software support
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How
Security Services Work
Security services protect networks primarily with firewalls
that help block traffic or allow it to pass. Firewalls
use routers and proxy servers to perform this function.
A user attempts to access a company's network through
the Internet by typing in an Internet Protocol (IP)
address. The address is converted into a packet of data,
which then travels along a dedicated IP connection until
it hits a router. The router identifies the packet and
directs it to the firewall. The firewall receives the
packet and examines it for compliance with the security
rules that the company has defined. It also can scan
for viruses. If the packet is compliant, the firewall
passes it into the network. If the packet is not compliant,
the firewall drops it and does not allow it to enter
the network.
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