Fortress Technologies Acquires Legra Systems Technology



Global Leader of Wireless Security and Policy Enforcement Delivers Enterprise-Level Protection and Speeds


Tampa, Fla. -/11 Oct, 2004 - Wi-Fi Technology News/- Fortress Technologies, the leader in security for wireless networks, today acquired technology and assets from Burlington, Mass.-based Legra Systems, Inc.

The highly optimized security processing architecture and wireless switch technology from Legra Systems will be integrated with Fortress? secure policy-based capabilities, creating a more scalable and sophisticated security switch that will support enterprise policy management as wireless becomes more central to the core of the network.

Driven by infrastructure market demand, this strategic development provides customers with the ability to migrate security to the network?s core, centralizing all wireless services for the enterprise.

The consolidation of best-of-breed designs represents an important step forward in the wireless industry and in Fortress Technologies? value as it will provide customers with a highly optimized and open platform for high-performance, end to-end network protection. With strong centralized, vendor-agnostic security from Fortress, any wireless network can be made suitable for even the most sensitive applications and environments like those found in regulated industries such as healthcare, financial and government.

Senior technical staff from Legra have joined the Fortress organization to ensure continuity and seamless technology integration. Beginning in early 2005, Fortress will deliver models of the AirFortress product line that leverage the acquired technology designs and Legra?s switching innovations. The new AirFortress security switch will include platforms ranging from site-optimized devices for remote branch offices, healthcare clinics and retail stores, to larger systems capable of securing entire corporate campus networks and high-speed point-to-point links.

"This strategic acquisition positions Fortress perfectly to support growing enterprise network environments. This growth strategy ensures that the value our products provide for security and flexibility scales with demand for wireless application services and bandwidth requirements," said Shawn Hughes, CEO of Fortress Technologies, "The true value of wireless switches is realized when merged with the additional value of high-assurance security and policy enforcement capabilities that provide a seamless secure environment."


Enterprise networks with critical applications like those found in sensitive industries such as healthcare, financial and government, require security and flexibility that supports multi-vendor and multi-protocol environments. Fortress? vendor-agnostic approach supports any access point on any mobile device across a wide range of wireless networks (including current and future versions of 802.11a,b,g,n; 802.16 /WiMax, Free Space Optics, satellite and others). The added levels of scalability within the new security switch will provide Fortress customers with a platform for maximum flexibility and protection to expand as wireless usage grows from hundreds, to tens of thousands of users within an organization.

Tested, Proven and Adopted

Customers that have evolved beyond their first trials of wireless recognize that mass market or bundled security options do not meet the security and integration requirements needed for enterprise growth. The only effective way to mitigate risk, protect intellectual property and achieve regulatory compliance is through consistent enforcement of policy with a flexible enterprise-grade security platform.

While most solutions on the market represent first generation technologies, Fortress? security products are tested, proven and deployed throughout 9,500 plus sites worldwide, including healthcare providers; local, state and federal agencies; and commercial enterprises. Fortress is the preferred wireless security partner for major integrators, solution providers and device manufacturers that target sensitive and/or regulated environments.


Coupled with the Fortress technology is the innovation of wireless LAN (WLAN) technology from Legra. The company was the first to develop a chipset to enable encryption/decryption on four traffic streams simultaneously. Legra also was the first company to combine priority switching and priority cryptography into a single system. The incorporation of Fortress government tested and validated (FIPS 140-2) encryption plus its award winning Three Factor AuthenticationTM is the ideal way to offer high- performance security to the enterprise.

Hughes concluded, "With wireless, as in the wired world, a centralized point of configuration, administration and management is key. The sophistication and maturity of these technologies will help early adopters make wireless networks a more acceptable growth strategy within their enterprise."

About Fortress Technologies

Fortress Technologies? AirFortress product family offers flexible, market-proven security to address the risks and vulnerabilities of wireless networks. It is a trusted and easy-to-use security solution that supports and integrates with corporate wired assets and systems to ensure the business integrity demanded by the global 1000, government, financial, and health care organizations. Providing the highest level of commercially available wireless security, Fortress meets the government?s rigorous standards for wireless network security under the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS 140) validation program. Fortress also is one of the only companies to offer end-to-end security consistent with the Department of Defense?s new directive for wireless devices and use.

Achieving market-leader status through deployments with the DoD, civilian agencies like the VA, and brand-name commercial accounts, Fortress is the recipient of the 2004 Frost and Sullivan "Market Leadership of the Year" award for wireless LAN security and received a 2004 SC Magazine "Readers Trust" award for best wireless security solution. Additional industry recognition includes Venture Reporter?s "20 Venture-backed Wireless Firms Most Likely to Succeed" and Federal Computer Week?s "10 Hot Companies to Watch." Fortress Technologies is headquartered in Tampa, Florida, with partners and resellers worldwide. For more information, contact us at info@fortresstech.com or call 813-288-7388.