News | September 20, 2000

Leviton pre-wires homes for WatchGuard LiveSecurity Service

Source: Leviton Voice & Data Division, a division of Leviton Manufacturing, Inc.
Hoping to further expand the reach of its LiveSecurity Service, WatchGuard Technologies announced that its Internet security software and services will be automatically available in wired homes using Leviton's new Vestal Router.

Leviton will market the Vestal Router to builders and contractors nationwide — as well as to individual homeowners doing remodeling projects or upgrading their homes to support computer networks and Internet access. WatchGuard will operate the LiveSecurity Service, delivering firewall protection to owners of these "wired homes."

Today, state-of-the-art information and communication systems have a place in the average home. Home networks can be found in about 1.6 million homes today, and the number is expected to rise to over 9.5 million by the year 2003. Builders and contractors nationwide are responding to this trend by "building in" Internet connectivity and home networking options in new home construction.

Leviton offers products that support Internet and computer networking applications, whole-house video and audio and family and home monitoring. The Vestal Router will make a home Internet-ready, while the WatchGuard LiveSecurity Service will automatically deliver firewall protection and other Internet security services directly to the home.

Once installed, Leviton's Vestal Router provides the flexibility to share a single, protected high-speed Internet connection with up to five PCs, and is compatible with most cable modems, DSL modems and leased lines. The WatchGuard-operated LiveSecurity Service provides a stateful packet filtering firewall, web content blocking capabilities, IPSec VPN (Virtual Private Network) to encrypt sensitive communications and assure privacy, plus the automatic delivery of threat responses, software updates, and security advice from experts.

Edited by Jerry R. Borland, P.E.
Managing Editor, EC Online