Cisco PIX family security appliances and ASA Series adaptive security appliances combine comprehensive firewall, intrusion protection, and Virtual Private Network (VPN) features in an economical, single-cabinet package. Both of these product families have been replaced by the ASA 5500-X family of firewalls with Firepower. (See configuration and debugging help with ASA 5500-X firewalls with Firepower Services.) Still, PIX and first-generation Cisco ASA 5500 Series firewalls are widely deployed and continue to deliver small and mid-size companies a viable security environment.

Cisco PIC and the original ASA 5500 firewalls deliver robust client and program policy enforcement, mutlivector assault protection, and secure access services. The enhanced knowledge sharing of consolidated security services in a stand-alone package provides customers implementing these aggregated solutions the advantages of enhanced security, lower TCO, and smaller management expense. Cisco PIX firewalls and Cisco's ASA 5500 product line join IOS Firewall, the FWSM for Catalyst 6500 switches, and 7600 Series routers as parts of Cisco's flexible, integrated firewall line. Based on a scalable, building-block approach, each device is designed with a specific feature set to deliver better protection to a variety of networking situations. These solutions can be individually deployed to protect certain facets of a connectivity infrastructure, or can be combined for a layered, protection-in-depth strategy based on the architecture leading practices described in Cisco's SAFE framework. Rounding out the integrated firewall product line, Cisco provides a complete security management catalog, ranging from Cisco security appliance and Cisco IOS security components and embedded appliance managers, to standalone management programs, helping to ensure that businesses can productively manage their Cisco protection solution investments. Cisco PIX Firewalls
Cisco PIX Security Appliance Series offer reliable policy support, multi-source invasion protection, and secure connectivity services in cost-effective, simple-to-configure solutions. These purpose-built appliances provide a broad range of built-in security and networking capabilities such as application-aware firewall services, VoIP and multimedia protection, reliable multi-location and remote-access IP Security VPN networking, excellent resiliency, intelligent networking features, and flexible administration options. The PIX firewall Appliance family spans compact plug-and-play desktop units for small offices or home offices to stackable high-bandwidth products with investment protection for enterprise and service-provider customers, PIX firewalls deliver high levels of security, performance, and availability for environments of any size.

PIX Firewalls Consultants
Built around a tested, specialized software platform that delivers a wealth of security services, Cisco PIX firewalls provide a high level of protection and have received Common Criteria Evaluation Assurance Level 4 status and ICSA Labs Firewall and IP Security (IPsec) certification. PIX security appliances offer protection for a wide range of Voice over IP and other mixed-media standards such as H.323 Version 4, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), Cisco Skinny Client Control Protocol, RTSP, and Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP), enabling organizations to safeguard installations of a broad range of current and upcoming IP voice and mixed-media applications. PIX firewalls offer a variety of setup, monitoring, and troubleshooting options, providing IT managers the versatility to utilize the methods that best meet their requirements. Management options include common, policy-based management tools, integrated web-accessible administration, and compatibility with remote-tracking standards such as Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and syslog. The integrated Cisco Adaptive Security Device Manager (ASDM) interface provides a powerful web-accessible management platform that significantly streamlines the installation, ongoing modification, and tracking of a specific PIX firewall appliance without requiring any extra software other than a standard web browser and Java applet to be installed on a manager's PC.

IT managers can also remotely set up, monitor, and troubleshoot PIX firewall appliances via a command-line interface. Safe command-line interface (CLI) access is available through several techniques including SSHv2 Protocol, Telnet over IPsec, and out-of-band via a console port. PIX firewalls also have dependable auto-update features, a set advanced secure remote-management services that make sure that firewall settings and software images are always current. Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) Firewalls
Cisco ASA Firewalls are specially engineered devices that incorporate advanced, best-of-breed security and VPN support plus a flexible architecture. The result is a robust, multifunction network protection solution better able to defend small and midsize business (SMB) and enterprise networks and, at the same time, reduce the overall installation and maintenance expenses formerly associated with this high level of security.

Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) 5500 Series Firewalls Consulting
Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances 5500 Series Firewalls leverage technology developed for Cisco's PIX 500 Series Security Appliance, the IPS 4200 Series sensor, and the Cisco VPN 3000 family concentrator. These technologies converge on the Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) 5500 Series Firewall family to deliver a firewall that defends against a broad range of attacks. Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) 5500 Series Firewalls provide program protection, network containment and control, and safe VPN connectivity throughout Cisco's product line. This breadth of protection allows the guarding of any network section, which includes the most typical attack vectors like remote locations, LAN-attached internal users, and remote access Virtual Private Networks. Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances firewalls provide robust application security through smart, application-aware inspection engines that analyze traffic at Layers 4-7. This produces a more secure environment covering web, voice, and mobile wireless connectivity. To protect environments from application-layer assaults and to give organizations greater control over the programs and protocols used in their networks, these inspection engines integrate extensive application and protocol knowledge and employ protection enforcement solutions that include protocol anomaly detection and state monitoring. Also incorporated are attack sensing and mitigation techniques such as application/protocol command filtering and URL deobfuscation. Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) 5500 Series firewall inspection engines also provide control over instant messaging and peer-to-peer file sharing, allowing organizations to enforce usage policies and free up bandwidth for crucial business processes. At the same time as improving network protection, Cisco ASA firewalls also lower deployment and operational costs. By providing broad Virtual Private Network and security services, the Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances 5500 Series firewall can be used as the single device for many uses, allowing platform standardization. The Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances 5500 Series firewall can be deployed as a converged attack-prevention device at the datacenter by taking advantage of its connectivity control, application inspection, and malicious assault mitigation technologies. The Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) firewall can also be deployed as a dedicated remote connectivity solution utilizing its VPN capabilities. As an alternative, the Cisco ASA 5500 Series firewall performs capably inside the network for inter-office access control and to guard against worms, viruses, and other malicious code internal users might unknowingly introduce into the network. In small business and branch office environments, the Cisco ASA firewall acts as an all-in-one platform providing comprehensive threat defense and Virtual Private Network functionality while fitting within the cost structure and operational models of these situations.

This versatile single-platform, multiple-use design reduces the total number of appliances that must be deployed and managed while providing a standard functional and administrative environment across all those installations. This architecture streamlines the training of configuration, monitoring, troubleshooting, and security staff. To further reduce operations expenses, Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) firewalls are also exceptionally network aware, allowing them to insert gracefully into the network without disrupting legitimate data flow and applications. How Progent Can Help You with Cisco Firewalls
Cisco's ASA 5500 Series adaptive security appliances and PIX security appliances incorporate an array of configuration, monitoring, and analysis features which give you the ability to set up these firewalls to match your company's requirements. Progent's CCIE authorized network experts can assist you to maintain your existing infrastructure that incorporates Cisco ASA and/or PIX firewalls and that offers protection, fault tolerance, throughput, and recoverability. Progent's firewall experts can also assist you to upgrade to ASA 5500-X firewalls with Firepower Services.

Progent's GISA and CISM-certified IS security engineers can assist you to develop a security policy that makes sense for your environment and can set up your security appliance to support your security strategy. Progent's risk assessment consultants can evaluate the effectiveness of your current firewall deployment and help determine the security of your entire IT environment. Progent's Technical Response Center can provide emergency online troubleshooting for Cisco technology and offer fast access to a Cisco network engineer. To see more details about Progent's professional support for Cisco technology, pick a subject:

To contact Progent about engineering support for Cisco products, phone 1-800-993-9400 or visit Contact Progent.

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