Press Release
ECS and Stonesoft strike key European partnership
Paris – 19th of December 2006 – Stonesoft, an innovative provider of integrated network security
and business continuity solutions, has announced a key partnership agreement with ECS Group, the
French and European leader in IT asset leasing and infrastructure management.
ECS helps companies optimise IT investment by offering cost-effective, dynamic and reliable
customised services. It operates in all key technology areas, providing multi-platform
expertise independent of hardware manufacturers and software publishers. Modular solutions cater
for a variety of company IT requirements, allowing ECS to work with a wide range of SMEs and
international companies in all sectors of activity.
Stonesoft’s StoneGate technology perfectly fitted ECS requirements, adding security provision
to an already impressive portfolio of services provided by ECS.
ECS has been a wholly owned subsidiary of French banking group Société Générale since 1984.
ECS corporate customers demand that it provides security solutions that meet very precise
specifications. Products must also be European, support AS400 and ZOS, and offer load balancing and
clustering applications.
Unlike less innovative firewall products available on the market, Stonesoft fully and
effectively manages load balancing and clustering applications. It also offers exciting
additional applications, particularly its Multi-Link VPN concept and a unique unified management
platform. These elements supported the choice made by ECS and its faith in StoneGate,
Stonesoft’s flagship solution.
“Stonesoft is our partner of choice,” confirmed Bruno Pochet, director of infrastructure
development at ECS. “The quality, efficiency and performance of Stonesoft’s team and products
enable us to complete our solutions portfolio whilst fully responding to the challenges and needs
of network environments that are sensitive and demanding when it comes to security.”
ECS and Stonesoft have signed a CGSI (Certified Global System Integrator) contract for all of
Europe, and notably the following countries: Germany, Benelux, Spain, France, Great Britain,
Ireland and Italy. This pan-European contract reflects Stonesoft’s ability to unify and
centralise information from a single point. These possibilities enable it to address corporate
customers with various subsidiaries.
With 65 offices in 12 European countries, ECS has a great deal of experience with this type
of contract in the field of service management, offering its clients full service through MSSP
(Management Security Services Provider) contracts. This level of organisation enables
Stonesoft to provide its services and products to a wide field of corporate customers with complex
network environments.
“In an increasingly competitive and mature market populated with multiple publishers and
manufacturers, it is essential that Stonesoft partners with ECS,” said Léonard Dahan, Stonesoft
director general for Benelux and France. “The expertise of the technical teams and facilities
contribute to our position as a major and reliable force in the field of network security.
ECS also enables us to position our products in particularly sensitive sectors, such as finance and
banking.”
About Stonesoft
Stonesoft Corporation is an innovative provider of integrated network security and business continuity solutions. Stonesoft is a company focused on medium and large enterprises requiring advanced network security and connectivity, with low total cost of ownership (TCO), best price/performance ratio, and highest return on investment (ROI). Its StoneGate™ Security Platform incorporates a firewall, a virtual private network (VPN) and an intrusion prevention system (IPS) in a unified and centrally managed system for distributed enterprises. Founded in 1990, Stonesoft Corporation is an international group with world headquarters in Helsinki (Finland) and Americas headquarters in Atlanta (Georgia, USA). For further information on Stonesoft Corporation, its products and services, please visit www.stonesoft.com.Press contact:
Pauline MoreauOpen2Europe – Press Relations
Tel.: 01 55 02 14 52
p.moreau@open2europe.com
Tuesday, December 19, 2006