Compaq ActiveAnswers for Check Point Firewall-1 with VPN

Reduced Time to Solution
ActiveAnswers for Check Point VPN-1 includes proven methods for planning, deploying and operating a VPN solution. The VPN Primer explains the salient technology at beginner and intermediate levels, and the Interactive Sizer provides the tools to determine the most appropriate size and scope of solution for a customer’s requirements. Together, these tools can significantly reduce the time and resources that an integrator or customer has to expend to validate a VPN solution. By reducing implementation time and eliminating costly guesswork, users can gain and sustain a competitive information advantage.

Increased Confidence
The recommendations and best-practices offered in ActiveAnswers for Check Point VPN-1 are based on extensive integration and performance characterization testing by Compaq in collaboration with Check Point. Included are proven methods for implementing VPNs on Compaq ProLiant servers within an overall security architecture. These methods reduce the risks associated with trial and error implementation. Compaq solution providers and customers deploy this solution with increased confidence knowing Check Point VPN-1 is securing their Internet communications.

Compaq delivers its ActiveAnswers through specific planning, deployment, and operations enablers. They provide details specific to Check Point VPN-1 running on Compaq ProLiant servers – at its inception and continuing throughout the solutions lifecycle.

Planning Enablers
Planning a successful VPN solution requires establishing a VPN security policy and assessing a company’s requirements for VPN communications – encryption levels, number and types of connections, authentication and authorization protocols – and understanding how the VPN solution should fit within an overall security architecture. Within ActiveAnswers are documents to support this process, including:

• The VPN Primer, which explains the basics of virtual private networking and the nature of the decisions that a customer or integrator must make in order to get to a complete solution, allowing the reader to employ the technology to its best advantage in their environment.
• An Interactive Sizer gives the integrator or customer the power, simply by answering a series of questions, to determine the most appropriate hardware combination for the job at hand. This sizer is the result of extensive Compaq testing, and it bases its output on the customer’s encryption needs, number of tunnels and likely traffic levels.
• A Performance Testing paper allows the customer or integrator to get a detailed look into the performance of the VPN solution under a variety of conditions, enabling them to fine-tune the solution.
• The White Paper: Inter-operability of VPN Solutions, a guide to how this solution works with VPNs from other vendors is vital for the company that plans to mesh its VPN with a customer’s or vendor’s VPN.
• The PPTP Solutions Guide provides information to a customer who is starting a VPN installation based on a Microsoft-only solution.

Deployment Enablers
To simplify the deployment process, ActiveAnswers provides:

• An installation guide to help ensure against vulnerabilities caused by mis-configuration.
• The inter-operability paper mentioned above also serves in deployment, especially in situations where multiple vendors’ solutions are involved.

Operations Enablers
Effective operations of the VPN solution are critical to its long-term security and effectiveness. Included within the operations enablers are:

• References to Check Point’s hot fixes and updates, to keep software current and simplify the operations process.
• ActiveAnswers Planning and Deployment Enablers are ideal for re-tuning the solution.

Solution Fulfillment
Compaq products can be purchased through your existing Compaq Authorized Channel. Check Point VPN-1 software can be purchased through your existing method of procurement.

Compaq Authorized Solution Providers and Compaq Services can help you implement a solution based on ActiveAnswers for Check Point VPN-1. For more information, contact your local Compaq authorized reseller or visit www.compaq.com/services.

Content & Accessibility Support
Compaq will provide content and website accessibility support to ActiveAnswers users worldwide. The key components of Compaq ActiveAnswers support structure include:

• Internet messaging for all users

ActiveAnswers Content Support addresses specific questions pertaining to the usage of content in the delivery of the solution. Typical questions may involve:

• Tool usage
• Sizer and configuration output
• Content errors or omissions

ActiveAnswers Accessibility Support addresses general website inquiries pertaining to:

• Page links
• Web response times
• Password administration
• Site availability