Catbird Security (www.catbird.com) today announced the first comprehensive security solution for virtual networks. The new Catbird V-Agent™ delivers broad hacker protection to virtual networks – for the first time enabling rogue virtual-device monitoring; Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS); security compliance; and vulnerability monitoring to servers running multiple virtual machines based on VMware. The Catbird V-Agent can monitor virtual segments within a host as well as physical network segments connected to the host.

The VMware-certified Catbird V-Agent virtual appliance delivers the operational flexibility that is a hallmark of virtual infrastructure. Unlike traditional host-based solutions, stateful appliances and proprietary hardware solutions, Catbird’s unique stateless “in-the-cloud” architecture is 100% plug-and-play for virtualized environments. Security data is maintained even as Catbird V-Agents are shut down or redeployed. V-Agents can track guests while providing comprehensive security protection for virtual networks; between guests; between guests and hypervisors; and between guests and the external network itself. As a stateless agent running as a guest on the virtual infrastructure, Catbird V-Agents are simpler and less costly to deploy and manage than traditional security solutions.

Leading analysts specify security concerns as the primary reason not to deploy virtualization. Catbird V-Agent security exceeds their published specifications, and delivers the necessary technology to protect virtualized environments today.

“With more than 20,000 networks based on VMware, IT professionals are searching for ways to secure the virtual infrastructure with architecturally-compatible solutions,” said Catbird COO Edmundo Costa. “Traditional security vendors have been slow to adapt their existing technology to this rapidly growing market. With Catbird’s V-Agent, that’s no longer an issue.”

Stanford Federal Credit Union (SFCU), a Catbird V-Agent customer, aggressively protects their large asset base with security services from Catbird. After successfully deploying a standard Catbird Agent on its main network, SFCU was interested in extending the security coverage to all network segments without deploying additional hardware. A virtual environment with protection secured by the Catbird V-Agent was just what the auditor ordered.

“The V-Agent has given us the flexibility of monitoring any and all isolated segments of our network, along with the advantage of very rapid deployment and recovery time,” said Andrew Voorhies, Technology Operations Manager at SFCU. “Catbird’s V-Agent technology allows us to be in many places at once.”

The Catbird V-Agent virtual appliance delivers continuous security monitoring at the virtual network level - via stateless agents. This benefits IT managers who maintain a proactive security posture even through multiple deployments and redeployments of virtual machines.

“Catbird is the only vendor offering the combination of the right architecture with a complete set of services to address the needs of VMware administrators,” Costa noted. “It’s a must-have protective shield for this new virtual world.”