SANTA CLARA, Calif. and CONCORD, Mass. -- Cavium Networks, the cost and performance leader in security processing, and Crossbeam Systems, a leading global developer of total security solutions required for safer, simpler networks, today announced a VPN accelerator card based on Cavium's NITROX lite processor that enables customers of Crossbeam's C30 security services switch to achieve VPN throughput of 300 Mbps of 3DES+SHA-1 IPsec processing at almost half the cost of competing VPN accelerators that often deliver lower performance.

Designed for medium-sized enterprises and divisional offices of larger businesses, Crossbeam's C30 is a compact security services switch that delivers high performance, high availability and multiple layers of security using individual or multiple security engines (VPN, firewall, SPAM and content scanning, anti-virus, and intrusion detection and prevention) on a patent- pending, dual-stage data classification and switching platform. For its VPN engine, the C30 uses the industry's leading integrated firewall and VPN solution -- Check Point Software Technologies (Nasdaq: CHKP - News) VPN-1®/FireWall-1® -- for access control, authentication and encryption to guarantee the security of network connections, the authenticity of local and remote users, and the privacy and integrity of data communications.

"VPN performance is critical for enterprises of all sizes, but medium-sized businesses have been priced out of VPN acceleration so they end up having to compromise on features and performance," said Joseph Dell, Chief Technology Officer, Vigilar. "The C30 allows us to deliver a 'no compromises' approach to security for our medium-sized business customers."

"VPN performance is critical based on the increasing number of tunnels required to support remote access users, backhaul regional office connections or secure wireless access points for the growing number of businesses using wireless LANs," said Marilyn Kain, VP of Strategic Alliances and Business Development, Crossbeam Systems. "Based on its 2 Gbps of firewall throughput and up to 300 Mbps of VPN throughput using Cavium's technology, the C30 delivers absolutely untouchable network security performance for the price."

Cavium's NITROX family is the fastest and most flexible range of security processors available today. NITROX is a programmable, highly integrated, single chip solution designed to combine all aspects of IPSec and SSL protocol security including extensive secure packet and record processing, bulk data encryption and public key processing. Cavium is widely recognized as a security processing industry leader with its NITROX products winning the Best Coprocessor Award at NPC West 2002 and Best Security Processor at Microprocessor Report's 2003 Analysts' Choice Awards.

"Working with Crossbeam is a great validation of our strategy to enable integrated security platforms with high-performance, low-cost security processing that surpasses single-function appliances," said Rajiv Khemani, VP of Marketing at Cavium Networks. "We are pleased that Crossbeam's C30 effectively utilizes the industry-leading price and performance of our NITROX security processors to provide a compelling OPSEC 'Secured by Check Point' platform with integration of multiple security applications and high-availability features."

Both the C30 and the NITROX-powered VPN accelerator card are fully OPSEC- certified (Open Platform for Security(TM)) by Check Point, generally available, and already shipping to customers and Crossbeam Authorized Partner Program (CAPP) resellers worldwide. Available from Crossbeam and its CAPP resellers, list price for a C30 is $24,000. The Crossbeam VPN accelerator card is $2,000 or it can be purchased with a C30 in a special bundle offer for $25,000.

In addition to this VPN card, the agreement between the two companies also gives Crossbeam access to higher-performance security processing and VPN acceleration products from Cavium.

Cavium Networks Inc.

Crossbeam Systems Inc.