Emerson Network Power’s New Avocent SwitchView SC 680/780 Delivers Industry’s First Eight-Port NIAP EAL2+ Certified KVM Switch Series
New KVM Switch Series enhances desktop data security and conserves space for federal government applications
Huntsville, Alabama [January 11, 2012] –Emerson
Network Power, a business of Emerson (NYSE:EMR) and a global leader in
maximizing availability, capacity and efficiency of critical infrastructure, today
announced the release of Avocent SwitchView
680 and 780, the industry’s first National Information Assurance
Partnership (NIAP) Evaluation Assurance Level (EAL)2+ certified eight-port KVM
switch series.
The Avocent SwitchView SC 680 and 780 KVM
switch series provides access to secure and non-secure networks with the
ability to keep private data completely separate and secure at all times. The switch
series is specifically designed to make unintended data transfer between
connected computers virtually impossible – an important factor for maximum
security installations.
“The release of
Avocent SwitchView 680 and 780 continues our record of delivering significant technological
advancements for the world’s most sensitive computing environments,” said Michael
Helms, director of product management for Emerson Network Power's Avocent
business. “With the release of the market’s first eight-port NIAP EAL2+ KVM
switch, this switch series represents yet another first in Emerson Network
Power’s long history of leading the secure KVM space since inventing the very
first secure desktop switch ten years
ago under the Cybex brand.”
Prior to the
release of an EAL2+ compliant eight-port switch, some companies combined
multiple switches (for example, hooking two four-port switches into each other
for a maximum of seven ports) which was prone to human error. With the new
Avocent SwitchView SC 680 and 780 KVM switch series, user error is sharply reduced
while conserving space.
"While
doing integration work for the Combatant Commands within the Department of
Defense, the new Avocent SwitchView Secure KVM allowed us to upgrade to a NIAP
approved EAL 2+ system while reducing the desk space used by the device by
approximately 50 percent. The installation was smooth and the switch allowed us
to provide seamless access to seven systems while remaining in complete
compliance with the EAL2+ standard," remarked Pat Morgan, President of
FSPS, Inc.
In 2006, customers
began requesting USB connectivity but there was no explicit guidance from NIAP.
In collaboration with many customers and partners, the company chose to
restrict USB connections to keyboard, mouse, and on certain models, smart card
or CAC readers. Other vendors chose an open USB approach.
When Wikileaks
and other high profile security breaches occurred, it became evident that the
ordinary USB connection could be a problem. NIAP then made the decision to
revisit USB connections. In September 2010, a new protection profile was
released restricting all USB devices except for keyboard and mouse.
The Avocent
SwitchView 680 and 780 KVM switch series provides multiple levels of physical
security and controlled USB connectivity. Users can consolidate up to eight
workstations of varying security classification levels with a single keyboard,
monitor and mouse without compromising network security. Some switches may
allow users to override the protection profile. Rather than make an Information
Assurance officials’ job more difficult, Emerson Network Power choose to follow
the new profile.
For more information on Emerson Network Power’s
Avocent secure KVM switches, visit www.EmersonNetworkPower.com.
###
About
Emerson Network Power
Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson (NYSE:EMR), delivers
software, hardware and services that maximize availability, capacity and
efficiency for data centers, healthcare and industrial facilities. A trusted
industry leader in smart infrastructure technologies, Emerson Network Power
provides innovative data center infrastructure management solutions that bridge
the gap between IT and facility management and deliver efficiency and
uncompromised availability regardless of capacity demands. Our solutions are
supported globally by local Emerson Network Power service technicians. Learn
more about Emerson Network Power products and services at www.EmersonNetworkPower.com.
About Emerson
Emerson
(NYSE: EMR), based in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global leader in bringing
technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions for
customers in industrial, commercial, and consumer markets through its network
power, process management, industrial automation, climate technologies, and
tools and storage businesses. Sales in fiscal 2011 were $24.2 billion. For more
information, visit www.Emerson.com.