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NEC Succeeds in Development of Advanced, Secure Remote Access Technology

Tokyo, December 02, 2005 --- NEC Corporation today announced that it has succeeded in the development of secure, remote access technology, enabling easy and instant access to one’s office network via a secure virtual link between the internet on a pre-authenticated terminal (PC or mobile phone) and a base-station inside the office LAN. Easy installation and use without any impact on existing network infrastructure is realized as the link can be created without any firewall configuration deployed at DMZ (note 1*).

 

The features of this new technology include:

(1) A mechanism for establishing an outbound virtual link, which is created from the base-station inside the office LAN and connected to the terminal issuing the access request via an e-mail system over the internet. This mechanism allows easy establishment of the link without the complicated configuration of firewalls, intermediate routers or proxies, which are deployed in the office LAN or at DMZ. The base-station is deployed at an unreachable IP point, protecting it from cyber hackers.

 

(2) An ethernet tunneling mechanism that sends and receives the SSL-encapsulated ethernet frames in the virtual link. This mechanism allows the terminal to access all of the office’s LAN applications, including IP and non-IP applications.

 

(3) An L2 firewall mechanism that blocks all of the incoming and outgoing packets, except those packets being transmitted via the virtual link, on the terminal. This prevents the terminal from being infected by a virus and spreading it to the office LAN, as packets transmitted through the office LAN are usually supported by full virus protection.

 

Recently, along with the spread of broadband access, internet-utilizing remote access systems are drawing great attention as a method for enhancing office productivity through the sharing of IT and network resources. However, although current remote access technologies are being widely used, there were still issues that needed to be solved to realize easy to manage and use secure, remote access systems, including:

 

(1) High cost: resulting from configuration changes of network devices at DMZ and in the office LAN.

 

(2) Security: protection of the remote access gateways from cyber hackers.

 

(3) Usage restriction: of LAN applications caused by sole dependence on IP protocols at the remote access gateway.

 

(4) Virus infection and information leakage: caused by direct access to the Internet from the terminal.

 

NEC’s newly developed secure, remote access technology has succeeded in solving these issues, enabling easy establishment of a secure virtual link. This breakthrough will enable remote access to be utilized even in divisions and SOHOs (note 2*) without network specialists, which are normally vital to installation and maintenance of a complex system. NEC’s technology can also be applied to remote home access from the Internet.

 

This technology will be exhibited at C&C user forum & iExpo 2005 (note 3*) being held from Dec. 7 - 9 at Tokyo Big Site, Japan. It will also be presented and demonstrated at IEEE Consumer Communications and Networking Conference 2006 (IEEE CCNC 2006) being held from January 8 - 10 at Harrah’s Las Vegas Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, U.S.A .

 

* Notes

(1) DMZ: DeMilitarized Zone

 

(2) SOHO: Small Office / Home Office

 

(3) iEXPO is a private exhibition held by NEC annually, where it demonstrates various solutions and advanced technologies. It is one of the largest annual exhibitions in Japan.

 

About NEC Corporation

NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY) (FTSE: 6701q.l) is one of the world's leading providers of Internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of its diverse and global base of customers. Ranked as one of the world's top patent-producing companies, NEC delivers tailored solutions in the key fields of computer, networking and electron devices, by integrating its technical strengths in IT and Networks, and by providing advanced semiconductor solutions through NEC Electronics Corporation. The NEC Group employs more than 140,000 people worldwide and had net sales of 4,855 billion yen (approx. $45.4 billion) in the fiscal year ended March 2005.

 

For additional information, please visit the NEC home page at: http://www.nec.com 

 

* Newsroom: http://www.nec.co.jp/press/en/newsroom/index.html