Issue TOC Print full article Print this page Download as PDF E-Mail this URL Discuss this article Flame the author     In this article Introduction Busy Windows Executive Summary How We Tested Where Does Protocol Modeler Fit? Hailstorm Protocol Modeler Looks To Find Its Niche Report Card

Clearly, Cenzic Hailstorm Protocol Modeler's $25,000 price will put it out of reach of most small to midsize organizations. But if you have the cash, gather potential users, show them this article, and observe their reactions. If they gush about specific tests they'd love to run against an application and marvel at how much time such a tool could save them, ask for a demo. If their eyes glaze over or they want to know how many step-by-step wizards come bundled, keep moving.

Say you decide you want to buy. Making a case to the business office could be tricky. Driving the tool will require a high-level analyst with a deep understanding of networking protocols, attack methodologies and secure programming practices. This security ninja will have the chance to execute these precise and deadly moves only if tasked with application and/or network-device testing. In many organizations, such testing is left to third-party security consulting companies specializing in application blackboxing, code auditing and network-device fault testing. However, if you have the time, the mandate and the skills to do this type of work in-house, Protocol Modeler will save you money quickly compared with the cost of contracting security houses each time you need a test performed.