An integrated security switch and related method for managing connectivity
and security among networks. The integrated security switch includes a
security function connectable with a first network and at least one
switching function connectable with a second network. A common management
interface driven by both command line interface and graphic user
interface protocols manages the switching function via a management path
dedicated between the security function and the switching function. The
common management interface enables secure switching of traffic to flow
via a traffic path dedicated between the switching function and the
security function. Typically, the traffic is a flow of data between the
Internet and a group of networked users such as a wide area network.