Qwest Unveils Industry's First Next Generation Virtual Private Network (VPN) Solution

Strategic Insights -

Qwest Communications International Inc. has announced the industry's first next-generation Virtual Private Network (VPN) solution, Qwest VPN Service. This comprehensive suite of managed VPN services leverages Qwest's nationwide Internet Protocol-based network to deliver high-performance, secure, and reliable VPNs. Qwest VPN is an end-to-end, network-based service that allows businesses of all sizes to configure high-performance site-to-site, remote access, and intranet/extranet solutions in a secure, standards-based environment.

Key Takeaways:

  • Qwest VPN is the industry's first next-generation VPN solution, featuring world-class quality-of-service, service level agreements, and network-based firewalls to protect mission-critical business networks.
  • The service provides unprecedented network management, eliminating the need to build customized network management tools or manage resources to perform network modifications.
  • Qwest VPN customers can enjoy direct control of network elements and service components via an easy-to-use, Web-based interface for on-demand VPN reconfigurations.
  • Quality of Service (QoS) is delivered by IP DiffServ with Weighted Fair Queuing (WFQ), allowing customers to manage traffic on their VPNs by assigning different priorities.
  • Qwest VPN adapts automatically to changing network traffic conditions, with bandwidth allocation allowing Qwest to dynamically control the amount of bandwidth each customer or application utilizes.
  • Industry-leading Service Level Agreements (SLAs) include 100 percent network availability, 65 millisecond network delay, and 100 percent throughput guarantees.
  • Qwest VPN uses leading-edge security technologies to securely route data across its nationwide backbone, with firewalls and stateful packet inspection to protect customer networks.
  • Customer data is encrypted via standard DES or 3DES data encryption protocols and tunneled via IPSec (IP Security Protocol) across Qwest's IP backbone.
  • Qwest VPN is available to beta customers, with general availability scheduled for this summer, and pricing starting at $225 per month, per port.
  • Customers can also take advantage of Qwest's Managed Firewall VPN, announced last year, which bundles Nokia hardware and Check Point software with Qwest's 24x7 monitoring, management, and administration.

Statistics:

  • Worldwide expenditures for VPN products and services will jump from $6.3 billion this year to almost $40 billion by 2004, or more than 500 percent, according to Infonetics Research.
  • Qwest VPN is expected to be a major player in this market, with its comprehensive suite of managed VPN services and unparalleled traffic management based on industry standards.

Sources:

  • Qwest Communications International Inc.
  • Infonetics Research
  • Microsoft Corp.
  • Nokia Networks
  • Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
  • Nortel Networks