Security vendor NetScreen will offer intrusion technology gained through its acquisition of OneSecure free to customers that are signed up for its software upgrades.

NetScreen acquired OneSecure, a maker of intrusion-detection appliances, in August last year, and is introducing a new software upgrade to existing firewalls. It will add deep inspection of packets, and intrusion-detection and prevention (IDP) capabilities.

"We always said we were going to integrate the OneSecure technology onto our appliances," said Peter Crowcombe, director of marketing EMEA at NetScreen.

"The good news is any customer with a software licence can upgrade their existing firewalls for free."

Simon Crumplin, managing director of reseller Data Integration, said: "We like IDP products because they are very specialised, with high margins for skills and consultancy. NetScreen has acquired best-of-breed technologies through OneSecure and more recently Neoteris."

Crumplin added that the sales cycle has been long for Data Integration's NetScreen business, but after six months of stocking the products it has "taken off" in many sectors.

According to Crowcombe, NetScreen's appliances offer multiple capabilities.

"We will continue to integrate new technologies into existing boxes where appropriate," he said. But he added that the secure socket layer virtual private network technology acquired through Neoteris will produce a new platform launch.

The vendor is actively looking for new networking and security resellers to sell its products, Crowcombe added.