In Brief: Commerce Is Sold On NetScreen Switch.(Commerce Bancshares Inc's Internet security system uses self-contained appliances from NetScreen Technologies Inc. )

Commerce Bancshares Inc. of Kansas City, Mo., says an in-house Internet security system has reduced costs and hassles.

In January the $13.6 billion-asset company went from an outsourced firewall system to self-contained appliances from NetScreen Technologies Inc.

The previous system, though 5 years old, was effective, executives said, but the cost was high and there was lots to do at the bank's end. Also, the provider, which it would not name on the record, was being sold, and Commerce did not want to deal with the uncertainty that would entail.

In addition, "the demand on our firewall was beginning to exceed our capacity," said assistant vice …