Press release from Siemens about HiPath integration with Microsoft NAP. This is the first announcement I've seen since their joint effort was announced, but this is a pretty big one. HiPath has been a huge winner for Siements in the market the last several months. Microsoft NAP continues to face strong competition from Cisco NAC, but the concept of network admission and control solutions is growing in importance and organizations look to tighten security.

Siemens Integrates HiPath Wireless Manager with Microsoft’s Network Access Protection to Heighten Mobile Security
Network Access Protection Integration through Siemens’ Open Services Framework Centralizes Security Administration for Converged Networks

BOCA RATON, Fla. — November 20, 2006 —Siemens Communications, Inc., announced today that it has successfully integrated its HiPath Wireless Manager with Microsoft’s Network Access Protection (NAP) platform, so companies can now monitor and enforce security policy and access control for mobile users who connect through a wireless network. Siemens provides integration with Microsoft’s Network Access Protection platform through the Open Services Framework introduced as part of HiPath Wireless Manager.

"User demand for mobility and security has placed new mandates on enterprises to secure their network infrastructure without taxing IT resources," Mike Schutz, Group Product Manager – Security and Access, Microsoft Corp. "Companies such as Siemens are important to the success of our mutual enterprise customers. Siemens’ Virtual Networks Services (VNS) combined with their Open Services Framework interface adds value to the Microsoft Network Access Protection technology and enhances end-to-end network security."

Network Access Protection is a policy enforcement technology built into the Windows Vista and Windows Server “Longhorn” operating systems that allows customers to better protect network assets from unhealthy computers by enforcing compliance with network health policies. Microsoft’s Network Access Protection technology will be publicly available with Beta 2 of Windows Vista, and available to select partners and customers with Beta 2 of the future version of Windows Server, codename “Longhorn.”

Integrating HiPath Wireless Manager with Microsoft’s Network Access Protection platform means IT managers can avoid duplicating their network security infrastructure for wireless users. Instead, Network Access Protection provides a single administration interface to manage corporate security policies and help prevent wireless security breaches. It also can quarantine users to reduce risk from viruses that can cause network and employee downtime and allows network managers to use Microsoft Network Access Protection as a common interface to control wireless and wired LAN access, which simplifies management.

“Being able to deliver a complete solution using HiPath Wireless Manager’s Open Services framework means our customers don’t have to spend the extra time and money to try to integrate individual products,” said Luc Roy, VP Product Planning, HiPath Wireless, Siemens. “It also means they can use a single Microsoft Network Access Protection interface to control security policy for any user, whether wired or wireless, which greatly elevates the level of WLAN security and reduces the cost to manage mixed wired and wireless networks.”

“Integration with Siemens’ HiPath Wireless Manager shows the flexibility of our Network Access Protection platform, and the value it brings as an emerging standard for secure network access,” said Calvin Choe, Lead Program Manager for the Enterprise Networking Group at Microsoft Corp. “We are pleased that Siemens has extended its WLAN security management platform by integrating with Network Access Protection.”

Siemens recently introduced HiPath Wireless Manager as a new, centralized WLAN management platform that enables the enterprise-wide management of thousands of wireless access points and tens of thousands of users from a single console. With HiPath Wireless Manager, IT managers can now monitor and optimize performance using enterprise-wide heat maps, statistics, alerts and reports. A new key element of the HiPath Wireless Manager software is its Open Services Framework which facilitates the third party development and integration for platforms such as Microsoft’s Network Access Protection, as well as converged voice, data and video applications that promote enterprise-wide mobility. Network Access Protection support, enabled by an optional external captive portal feature, is backward compatible with HiPath Convergence Software version 3.1.

About Siemens
Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) is one of the largest global electronics and engineering companies with reported worldwide sales of $96 billion in fiscal 2005. Founded nearly 160 years ago, the company is a leader in the areas Medical, Power, Automation and Control, Transportation, Information and Communications, Lighting, Building Technologies, Water Technologies and Services and Home Appliances. With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York City, Siemens in the USA has sales of $18.8 billion and employs approximately 70,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Eleven of Siemens' worldwide businesses are based in the United States. With its global headquarters in Munich, Siemens AG and its subsidiaries employ 460,000 people in 190 countries. For more information on Siemens in the United States: www.usa.siemens.com

About Siemens Communications, Inc.
Siemens Communications, Inc. is one of the world’s leading vendors of Open Communications solutions for enterprises of all sizes, enabling business processes to be more productive, faster and more secure – with any device, network or information technology infrastructure. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens AG with 17,000 employees globally and headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla. For more information, visit www.usa.siemens.com/communications

Note: Siemens and HiPath are registered trademarks of Siemens AG or its subsidiaries and affiliates. All other company, brand, product and service names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

This release contains forward-looking statements based on beliefs of Siemens management. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "forecast," "expect," "intend," "plan," "should," and "project" are used to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the company's current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the actual results to be materially different, including, among others, changes in general economic and business conditions, changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates, introduction of competing products, lack of acceptance of new products or services and changes in business strategy. Actual results may vary materially from those projected here. Siemens does not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

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