LAS VEGAS, May 7, 2002 – At the Networld+Interop show today, Proxim Corporation (Nasdaq: PROX), booth #849, announced it will deliver IEEE 802.1x security in its Harmony 802.11a products, providing the most secure, high-speed wireless networking solution available. Proxim was the first company to deliver 802.11a products in the United States in late 2001 and last week announced approval to sell 802.11a products in Europe and Asia Pacific. Adding 802.1x to Proxim’s existing security features provides enterprises with greater protection against wireless LAN (WLAN) security attacks and simplifies wireless LAN security management by leveraging existing authentication databases for both the wireless and wired network.
802.1x provides enterprises with a secure, scalable authentication solution using dynamic re-keying, user name and password authentication and mutual authentication. Dynamic re-keying, which is transparent to the user, eliminates time consuming and insecure key distribution and prevents brute force attacks associated with static WEP keys. User-based authentication eliminates security holes arising from stolen or lost equipment when device-based authentication is used, and mutual authentication mitigates attacks based on rogue APs. Additionally, because 802.1x authentication is through a Radius database, it also scales easily to handle growing numbers of WLAN users.
“Security is the number one consideration for enterprises considering deploying a wireless LAN today,” said Lynn Lucas, director of product marketing and business development for Proxim. “By adding support for 802.1x to Proxim’s existing Harmony security, customers can be assured of enhanced protection against security attacks and the convenience of being able to scale existing authentication databases.”
Harmony 802.11a supports both EAP-TTLS and EAP-TLS, strong authentication methods for 802.1x networks. While EAP-TLS credential security is based on each user having a certificate, EAP-TTLS offers the convenience of allowing enterprises to safely deploy secure WLAN access leveraging their existing authentication databases, including Windows and token systems.
Proxim’s Harmony 802.11a solution is compatible with Funk Software’s Odyssey™, a WLAN access control and security system based on 802.1x. Odyssey is an end-to-end 802.1x security solution for wireless LANs that can be easily and safely deployed enterprise-wide. Odyssey provides highly secure user authentication and data protection over a wireless connection, and also introduces EAP-TTLS, a new security method that provides extremely strong authentication security while allowing users to connect using their existing Windows passwords.
“We’re pleased that Proxim, with its history of leadership in the wireless LAN market, is the first company to support EAP-TTLS with 802.11a,” said Joe Ryan, Vice President of Funk Software. “This clearly demonstrates that Odyssey scales to provide the highest level of security for the new generation of wireless LAN technology.”
Harmony 802.11a with 802.1x is also interoperable with Microsoft’s Internet Authentication Service (IAS), which extends networking security capabilities.
The addition of 802.1x builds on Harmony’s existing security features, including Harmony Key Management and VPN tunneling. Proxim’s Harmony 802.11a products offer speeds up to 54 Mbps in 802.11a mode and up to 100 Mbps in 2X mode. In addition, Harmony’s unique multi-standard architecture reduces equipment acquisition costs, installation complexity and long-term operating costs by providing auto-installation of access points, centralizing network management, and supporting built-in roaming across subnets.
About Proxim
Proxim Corporation, a company created by the merger between Proxim, Inc. and Western Multiplex Corporation, is a leading manufacturer of wireless networking equipment, securely connecting networks within buildings as well as between locations. Proxim's complete line of high-speed fixed wireless solutions and wireless local area networks (LANs) provide enterprises, service providers and consumers with unprecedented network capacity and mobility. Primary applications for the company’s products include mobile/wireless backhaul, fiber extension/redundancy, enterprise/campus LAN bridging, in-building LANs, last mile access and small office and home networking.
For the Proxim Corporation Investor Information Service, call toll free at 877-996-8947. The company’s website is www.proxim.com/newproxim.
About Funk Software
N+I Booth Number: 1355
Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Funk Software is the leading commercial developer of RADIUS/AAA and wireless LAN security solutions. Its market-leading Steel-Belted Radius family of commercial AAA solutions for wireless operator, service provider, and enterprise networks is in use on thousands of public and private networks worldwide, delivering a highly scalable AAA solution that meets the needs of the largest customers. The Steel-Belted Radius family of RADIUS/AAA solutions includes Steel-Belted Radius/Service Provider Edition, Steel-Belted Radius Concurrency Server, Steel-Belted Radius Port Allocation System, Steel-Belted Radius Mobile IP Module, and Steel-Belted Radius/Enterprise Edition. The company also offers an end-to-end 802.1x WLAN security solution, Odyssey, that can be easily and widely deployed on enterprise networks. For more information, visit www.funk.com.
Safe Harbor
This press release includes forward-looking information and statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Statements regarding anticipated shipment of our 802.11a products, expected performance characteristics that our 802.11a systems will provide enterprises, including statements regarding product performance related to security, flexibility, reliability and cost of deployment and operation are forward-looking statements and subject to the following risks: that products will not be shipped on schedule, that enterprises will not purchase Proxim's products as expected, that the expected benefits of Proxim's products will not be realized by customers; that products will not perform as designed and other risks and uncertainties associated with Proxim's business. For risks about Proxim Corporation's business, see Western Multiplex' registration statement on Form S-4 filed on February 25, 2002, its Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31, 2001 and subsequent Forms 8-K, Proxim, Inc.'s Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31, 2001 and subsequent Forms 8-K, and other SEC filings.
