As networking evolves to meet sophisticated communications needs, enhanced application performance becomes a strategic priority for most enterprises.

By providing voice, data, and video on the same network, IP can maximize network infrastructure investments, simplify control and administration, and facilitate the management of multiple applications.

Security needs to evolve with the demands of this new environment.  To be effective, security in the converged environment must address all infrastructure layers, including physical transport, the network, and applications.

AT&T has developed seven basic MPLS security protection methods, or "pillars": the separation of data, automation, monitoring, operational controls, testing, rapid response, and innovation.  These pillars maintain a constant security focus in all design, deployment, and operational processes around AT&T's MPLS core network infrastructure.