LAS VEGAS, April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- InformationWeek Analytics, the leading service for peer-based IT research and analysis, and Interop, the leading global business technology event series, today named Arista Networks as the Grand Prize Winner of the 2010 Best of Interop Awards following the keynote presentations at Interop Las Vegas 2010. Also selected were Best of Interop winners in nine categories, including IBM, Vidyo Inc., Mellanox Technologies, Arista Networks, ExtraHop Networks, Spirent Communications, TippingPoint, Citrix Systems and Cisco Systems. Interop Las Vegas 2010 is taking place this week at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center and will conclude on Thursday, April 29.  For more information, visit: http://www.bestofinterop.com/.

The Best of Interop Awards recognize some of the world's most innovative technologies across nine major categories.  The winners for the 2010 Best of Interop are selected by award-winning editors and analysts from InformationWeek Analytics.  Best of Interop winners prove to be the key players moving the industry forward and helping evolve the business technology market.

"The Best of Interop Awards highlight the outstanding IT vendors of the industry and this year's Best of Interop is particularly exciting because of the strong competition we saw in each category," said Art Wittmann, Managing Director of InformationWeek Analytics. "Arista Networks and each of the category winners represent market innovation and deserve recognition for helping build the energy and growth of today's IT industry."

"One of the highlights of Interop Las Vegas is the Best of Interop Awards.  The program recognizes the innovations of companies helping re-energize the IT market," said Lenny Heymann, Interop General Manager. "We congratulate Arista Networks and are pleased to have Interop be the platform for bringing together the latest advancements in business technology."

The 2010 Best of Interop Awards winners in each category are:

• Cloud Computing:  IBM – Smart Business Development & Test on the IBM Cloud
• Collaboration:  Vidyo Inc. – VidyoDesktop Executive
• Data Center and Storage:  Mellanox Technologies – BridgeX 5020
• Infrastructure:  Arista Networks – Arista 7500
• Network Management, Monitoring and Testing:  ExtraHop Networks – Network Timeout
• Performance Optimization:  Spirent Communications – Spirent Avalanche Virtual
• Security:  TippingPoint – TippingPoint Virtual Controller (vController)
• Virtualization:  Citrix Systems – XenDesktop 4 Feature Pack 1
• Wireless and Mobility:  Cisco Systems – Aironet 3500 Series Access Point with CleanAir Technology

In addition to these nine category winners, two special awards were also awarded:

• Best Startup:  ExtraHop Networks
• Green Award:  Cyber Switching, Inc. – ePower

Best of Interop is hosted by InformationWeek Analytics.  For more information on Best of Interop categories and awards, visit www.bestofinterop.com.

About InformationWeek Analytics

InformationWeek Analytics is the leading resource for peer-driven research, providing business technology professionals with the real-world analysis and perspective they need to run better, smarter IT organizations.  InformationWeek Analytics content is written and produced by an analyst team comprised of practicing senior IT professionals and InformationWeek's world-class editors. Featuring a combination of quantitative research and qualitative real world analysis, coupled with technology-adoption best practices, the InformationWeek Analytics site boasts more than 900 reports and briefs written specifically for and by IT professionals.  InformationWeek Analytics is part of the InformationWeek Business Technology Network.  For more information, visit www.analytics.informationweek.com.

About Interop®

Interop® drives the adoption of technology, providing knowledge and insight to help IT and corporate decision-makers achieve business success. Part of UBM TechWeb's family of global brands, Interop is the leading business technology event series. Through in-depth educational programs, workshops, real-world demonstrations and live technology implementations in its unique InteropNet program, Interop provides the forum for the most powerful innovations and solutions the industry has to offer. For more information about these events visit, www.interop.com.

About UBM TechWeb

UBM TechWeb, the global leader in technology media and professional information, enables people and organizations to harness the transformative power of technology.  Through its three core businesses – media solutions, marketing services and paid content –UBM TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed brands and media applications in the technology market. More than 14 million business and technology professionals (CIOs and IT managers, Web & Digital professionals, Software Developers, Government decision makers, and Telecom providers) actively engage in UBM TechWeb's communities and information resources monthly. UBM TechWeb brands include: global face-to-face events such as Interop, Web 2.0, Black Hat and Enterprise Connect; award-winning online resources such as InformationWeek, Light Reading, and Network Computing; and market-leading InformationWeek, Wall Street & Technology, and Advanced Trading magazines.  UBM TechWeb is a UBM company, a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $2.5 billion.

SOURCE UBM TechWeb