CloudShield launches packet processing company

Start-up CloudShield Technologies today launched its company and unveiled its vision of optical networks, in which computational-intensive functions such as security will be offloaded from servers and routers to its high-speed packet processors.

Touted as a new breed of product, CloudShield’s packet processors will give carriers a platform to perform high-level encryption needed to offer high-margin advanced services cost effectively, according to Peder Jungck, CloudShield’s CEO and co-founder. And CloudShield’s one-unit solution performs these functions at line speed up to OC-48—something that would require 30 Nokia servers, Jungck added.

“Carriers are looking for services, but there’s no platform that can run services or software at the speed of that fiber…right now, security products are running at OC-3 or OC-12,” he said.

By performing security functions at line speed, there is no degradation to network performance—in fact, CloudShield’s packet processors will let carriers turn off the security features in routers that can slow transport speeds by as much as 40%, Jungck said.

Because it is a software solution, CloudShield’s security solution can be upgraded quickly from remote locations to react to even the most recent security threats. By separating the processing and transport functions in the network, carriers can extend the life of their routers and the efficiency of their networks, according to Dave Clauson, CloudShield’s vice president of marketing.

“Routers route and switches switch, and when you ask those devices to do something that they were not initially designed [to do], you’re asking that device to give up something,” he says. “In the case of routers and switches, it’s giving up performance to try to do computational analysis. That’s not good.

“We believe that, in today’s world of OC-48 and above, you need to design a device specifically for packet processing and management, and that’s exactly what we’ve done.”

Currently seeking a Series B round of funding for $15 to $25 million that should give the company enough money to reach profitability next year, CloudShield will begin beta trials with two Tier 1 carriers and one large hosting provider in September, Jungck said. The product should be generally available late this year.