Cisco Joins Alliance for Network Security

Cisco Systems Inc. is teaming up with software and networking companies to implement a standard for security on corporate networks. The Enterprise Security Initiative also includes Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft Corp., Oracle Corp. of Redwood Shores and Hewlett-Packard Co. of Palo Alto. The alliance plans to set standards that let the central computer and individual personal computers in a network share the same security system, said Randi Feigen, a spokeswoman for San Jose-based Cisco. “This will allow corporations to focus on applications instead of worrying about managing the network,” Feigen said. Cisco will introduce several products to implement the new standard in the next 18 months, Feigen said.