The Crossbeam X-Series Security Platform uses a patent-pending system architecture that consists of the chassis (X40, X45, and X80) and three hardened components: the Network Processor Module (NPM), the Control Processor Module (CPM), and the Application Processor Module (APM). This combination results in the industry’s best performing and most highly available and reliable Next Generation Security Platform. The X-Series technologies are tied together by a sophisticated architecture that removes the need for external switches, load balancers, taps, or port mirrors. This consolidation creates the most secure and economical defense model available today.

The X-Series is powered by the Crossbeam X-Series Operating System (XOS™) software, which offers several unique features. One key XOS innovation is “secure flow processing” which offers the ability to logically sequence flows from one virtualized instance of a security application to another. Secure flow processing enables security policy sequences to occur on a virtual plane, as if, for example, switches, load balancers, and patch cables were all physically installed between an intrusion prevention service and a firewall. This process is accomplished at wire speed, with active management of data flows and load balancing with “state” maintained for firewalls and content gateways.

Additionally, the X-Series virtualizes security applications on a pre-hardened operating system that is dynamically applied to any application blade. Security applications and configuration data are automatically distributed to multiple computing modules. Thus, the technology can easily scale for virtualized clustering and application redundancy, and it enables single box high availability with self-healing.