Light Reading today published a report that sets in motion the development of another interactive directory, this time covering network security appliances: Who Makes What: Security Appliances.



As with other Who Makes What projects, the report invites readers to comment on the way Light Reading intends to classify security products, and to point out omissions in a list of suppliers.

Unlike previous Who Makes What projects, the report isn't set out as a series of product categories, one per page, because security products often combine multiple functions.

Instead, it invites vendors to download a questionnaire and categorize their own products according to three criteria:

• Target customer
• Primary security function(s) or type(s)
• The security threat(s) targeted by the product

The results of this exercise will be used to create a comprehensive directory of security appliances on Light Reading, similar to the Ethernet and IP Services Software directories launched this week (see Light Reading Launches Directories).

Use of Light Reading directories is free of charge. Vendors also don't have to pay anything to have their product or service information included in the directories.

The report will also form the basis of a market perception study by Heavy Reading, Light Reading’s paid research division, that will ask prospective customers to identify the suppliers they recognize and consider leaders in terms of price, performance, reliability, and service and support.

— Nicole Willing, Reporter, Light Reading