PARIS, March 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alcatel (NYSE: ALA; Paris: CGEP.PA) today announced that its new Access Guardian feature set and the Alcatel OmniVista 2770 Quarantine Manager will support Microsoft's Network Access Protection, which is a policy enforcement technology built into Microsoft's operating systems Windows Vista and the future version of Windows Server, code-named "Longhorn." Microsoft's Network Access Protection offers better protection of network assets from unhealthy computers by enforcing compliance with network health policies, such as antivirus (AV) signatures, patch levels, and firewall configurations. Alcatel complements the Network Access Protection technology and extends security by offering customers a comprehensive network-based security solution that is both proactive and reactive, controlling network access and automatically quarantining intruders through its new Access Guardian feature set and the Alcatel OmniVista 2770 Quarantine Manager. Alcatel's OmniSwitch family Access Guardian feature set enables network- wide security of user-based platforms, such as PCs, printers or IP phones. Alcatel's Access Guardian allows you to combine the different policies associated with the various devices onto a single port and automatically detect and authenticate based on the user and device type. This provides users proactive security by preventing unauthorized network access, and reduces to zero the time a network administrator spends for adding or moving users. In addition to proactive security, the Alcatel OmniVista 2770 Quarantine Manager provides reactive security by swiftly handling malicious attacks through automatic containment and remediation. Alcatel's quarantine solution delivers a more secure network with intrusion control for both Network Access Protection and non-Network Access Protection compliant devices. "Alcatel continues to provide the latest in network security protection through internal development and strategic relationships with Microsoft and others," said Eric Penisson, vice president of marketing for Alcatel's enterprise network infrastructure activities. "Alcatel brings enhanced, integrated security to the network infrastructure through the Access Guardian feature set and our OmniVista 2770 Quarantine Manager, complementing Microsoft's security expertise." Alcatel will deliver its first integration with Microsoft's Network Access Protection technology in conjunction with the release of Microsoft Windows Server "Longhorn" available in 2007. About Alcatel Alcatel provides communications solutions to telecommunication carriers, Internet service providers and enterprises for delivery of voice, data and video applications to their customers or employees. Alcatel brings its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks, applications and services, to help its partners and customers build a user-centric broadband world. With sales of EURO 13.1 billion and 58,000 employees in 2005, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com/ DATASOURCE: Alcatel CONTACT: press, Tracy Dupree, +1-818-878-4408, or , or Regine Coqueran, HQ, +33-0-1-40-76-49-24, or , or Stephane Lapeyrade, HQ, +33-0-1-40-76-12-74, or , or investor relations, Pascal Bantegnie, +33-0-1-40-76-52-20, or , or Nicolas Leyssieux, +33-0-1-40-76-37-32, or , or Maria Alcon, +33-0-1-40-76-15-17, or , or Charlotte Laurent- Ottomane, +1-703-668-3571, or , all of Alcatel Web site: http://www.alcatel.com/

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