AlcaLu Adds Security to Routers

Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) is adding security against distributed denial-of-service attacks (DDoS) to the 7750 Service Router, in the form of technology from Arbor Networks , the companies are announcing Wednesday.

Specifically, the software that's behind Arbor's threat-management appliances will be available as half-slot MS-ISA cards for the 7750. AlcaLu will also be reselling Arbor appliances.

Why this matters
Network-based security (do we really have to say "cloud"?) seems like an obvious service for carriers to offer. That's particularly true when it comes to DDoS attacks, which can come at a scale that overwhelms enterprise-network defenses. AlcaLu can help carriers offer that kind of service now.

Unlike its rivals, AlcaLu hasn't toyed with embedding security features into routers. Juniper Networks Inc. (NYSE: JNPR) has embedded security features in its Junos software, while Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) discontinued the Cisco Guard DDoS-prevention line of products that was available in router-blade form, but it does have the ASA Services Module, a firewall card for the Catalyst 6500.

For more
The Arbor relationship plays into CloudBand, the cloud architecture that AlcaLu announced in November:

• Analyst: AlcaLu Could Have a Cloud Hit
• AlcaLu Unveils Its Carrier Cloud Play

— Craig Matsumoto, West Coast Editor, Light Reading