Re: NAI Guantlet "Best of Show Award" The Real Deal

[Christopher Nicholls <chrisn () softway com au>]

At 06:43 PM 09/11/98 -0500, Waszak, Tom wrote:
> *Note:  I do not work for any security product vendors.  Also note that
> these are my opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of my
> employer Xerox Connect*
>
> The LAN Times and Data Communications sponsored "Best of Show Networld +
> Interop '98"  has been a major marketing coup for NAI.  If you read their
> press release (http://www.nai.com/about/news/press/1998/october/102898.asp
> <http://www.nai.com/about/news/press/1998/october/102898.asp>  ) it would
> lead you to believe that they actually won the Best of Show Award in the
> "Network Security and IP Tools" category.  It is nothing more than a
> wonderful example of creative writing and word play.  
<SNIP>

Ummm... me thinks you are overeacting a shade... The comment on NAI's own
Web-site was:

"Network Associates, Inc. (Nasdaq: NETA) today announced that its Gauntlet
Firewall was honored in the prestigious 1998 Best of Show awards at last
week's NetWorld+Interop show in Atlanta. Gauntlet Firewall, widely
respected as the industry’s most secure firewall, was honored as
Best-of-Show finalist in the Network Security and Performance category."

That sounds pretty harmless to me... and as a finalist in the competition,
the new Gauntlet obviously won some votes...

> I have contact with all the major firewall vendors.  All are prone to slight
> exaggeration about their products.  It's the nature of the business.
> However, I have noticed that NAI has developed a pattern that really makes
> me wonder whether or not they....well I won't say...draw your own
> conclusions.  I will say this:  Integrity is important in any vendor
> relationship.  I need to know that the people I talk to are telling me the
> truth and can call a spade a spade.  If a vendor can't do that I don't want
> to deal with him or her.  Hmmm...I wonder how many NAI product
> recommendations I'll make in the future?

So you as a professional, senior consultant in IT security will make
decisions based upon whether or not a vendor uses hyperbole or not when
describing the success of it's products? 
> Here's something you could do if your really bored...call your local NAI rep
> and ask them if Gauntlet won best of show.  

You really don't like NAI, do you?

Personally I believe that regardless of marketese, good products are
fundamentally good products regardless of the marketing ability or
inability of the vendor. The real important people are the engineers and
technical directors who make the products in the first place - forget the
hyperbole and let's take a look at the technology.

Kind regards

Christopher
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Christopher A. Nicholls
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