"Organizations typically lack the ability to see the full spectrum of network threats," said Charles Kolodgy, Research Director, IDC. "They need deeper insight into the whole set of threats in order to provide full protection for critical business systems such as datacenters. Integrating threat detection provides full visibility when inspection isn't enough or when it isn't feasible for cost or scalability reasons. In an incredibly dynamic threat environment, the ability to detect malware in real-time can provide tangible benefits," he said.

Dan Ryan, Executive Vice President and General Manager- Network Security business unit, McAfee, said, "With Full Spectrum Network Defense, we are reinforcing that commitment by integrating best-in-class security technologies into our network defense products. We will continue to deliver on customer demand by providing powerful new tools that extend visibility into the vast unprotected areas of the network."

Full Spectrum Network Defense identifies traffic, users, content and applications, and defends against any threats that may exist across the network. The solution is powered by McAfee NetPrism technology, McAfee's patented protocol analysis approach to network threat protection, and features enhanced interlock between network security, endpoint security, and global threat intelligence.

McAfee Network Security Platform M-series appliances are available with Version 6.1 software available in December. Pricing for the Network Security Platform M-series starts at $10,995. Network Security Platform T-series is generally available in Q1 of 2010, with pricing starting at $26,995. Exact pricing depends on customer requirements, selected model and associated add-on modules.