ISA can offer a route into security for those with Microsoft skills.

The article presents information on Microsoft's Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server. ISA is not exactly a server, but part of the Microsoft network infrastructure. It is best regarded as a firewall with additional management for resilience and performance. Without this extra functionality ISA would find it difficult to break into the well-established firewall market. Microsoft itself stresses that ISA can be used as an additional layer within an existing security set-up. ISA could provide a way for people from a Microsoft background to break into the lucrative Internet security skills market. Skill combinations currently being sought include ISA with Internet Information Services, ISA with Exchange and ISA with SQL Server. Microsoft describes ISA as an advanced stateful packet and application-layer inspection firewall, virtual private network, and web cache solution aimed at enterprise networks that require multiple firewall arrays in disparate locations. It is intended to provide secure e-mail and intranet services for mobile or remote users who need access to corporate resources on servers running Internet Information Services.