Despite the traction that cloud has gained in the past year, business barriers to adopt cloud computing and communications services remain, which places great emphasis on the need for data security.

Siemens Enterprise Communications (News - Alert) announced this week it has deployed several network security appliances from Fortinet to help secure its OpenScape Cloud Services.

Specifically, Siemens (News - Alert) Enterprise Communications, a provider of end-to-end enterprise communications, has installed multiple FortiGate-1240B network security appliances to help secure its cloud communications services.

Company officials explained that when Siemens Enterprise (News - Alert) Communications launched its OpenScape Cloud Services to extend its voice and UC services to customers using a public cloud, the company looked at setting up secure and reliable IT and communications infrastructures as well as high-availability data centers in Germany and in the U.S.

In particular, Siemens wanted security applications from a company known for its success in cloud testing.

“The decisive factor was Fortinet’s (News - Alert) outstanding success in the preceding tests,” said Andreas Seum, vice president of Converged Networks & Security at Siemens Enterprise Communications. “Also, Fortinet’s expertise in the provider and carrier sector, in addition to the personal support contributed to our decision.

On a technical level, Seum said, the FortiGate appliance proved to uniquely function in compliance with the SIP standard and support all the voice and UC application functionalities without impairing the performance or reliability of our communications solutions.

Seum said Siemens Enterprise Communications’ had high requirements for security and reliability for its OpenScape Cloud Services; performance and scalability were also important, he added.

In Germany and in the U.S., Siemens Enterprise Communications deployed multiple clusters of FortiGate-1240B network security appliances for high availability, to allow for reliable protection and controlled accessibility of its data centers. The FortiGate clusters act as central firewalls for the OpenScape Cloud Services and primarily provide firewall, VPN, IPS, and SIP VoIP security.

Company officials said that FortiGate appliances’ allows Siemens Enterprise Communications to meet all operations requirements, including high loads during peak periods and possible disruptions, without noticeable constraints. With a very low latency, Fortinet’s appliances are ideal for the provider’s new voice services since no delay is incurred during voice traffic.

Want to learn more about cloud communications? Then be sure to attend the Cloud Communications Expo, collocated with TMC’s ITEXPO East 2012taking place Jan. 31-Feb. 3 2012, in Miami, FL. The Cloud Communications Expo will address the growing need of businesses to integrate and leverage cloud based communications applications, process enhancement techniques, and network based communications interfaces and architectures. For more information on registering for the Cloud Communications Expo click here.

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