Cisco to bundle Trend antivirus

Cisco is to bundle Trend Micro's antivirus software with its range of networking equipment.

From the third quarter of this year, Trend's antivirus signatures will be added to all products that support Cisco's IOS software version 4.1, including IOS software-based routers, switches and network security appliances.

The technology will be integrated into other Cisco products in 2005.

Roger Levenhagen, UK managing director of Trend Micro commented: "This could signify an industry shift.

"What this is saying to the industry is that the future of dealing with such threats is going to be defending on the network, rather than at the end client.

"Traditional client-focused antivirus was never going to solve mass network viruses; for that you need a network solution."

The two companies already have a strong relationship after Trend signed up to Cisco's Network Admission Control (NAC), an interoperability programme for security products that operate in a network environment.

"The success of the Cisco Network Admission Control programme lies in part with leading antivirus companies, like Trend Micro, who have helped define the requirements and architecture," said Charles H. Giancarlo, senior vice president and general manager of product development at Cisco Systems, in a statement.

"We see this collaborative effort as one that will help address a broad and growing concern among enterprise customers for better control of the costs from virus threats."

Trend will be bringing out NAC-compliant software later this year.