Aventail's SSL VPN security locks down PDAs
Louis Nel, TechRepublic.com
Published: 03 Jun 2003 10:15 BST
It is used to easily authenticate, authorise, and encrypt access across any application or device supported by Pocket PC, including the full functionality of Microsoft Pocket Outlook and Exchange. Support for the Pocket PC will be a standard feature for users of Aventail OnDemand, a Java SSL VPN agent and one of three access options of Aventail's Anywhere Secure Access Policy (ASAP) Platform.
The biggest headaches for IT managers who have a sizable contingent of PDA users are manageability, support cost (time and monetary), and, above all, security (as evident from the sources listed above). The solution Aventail offers addresses all these concerns.
IT managers will welcome the comprehensive set of real-time monitoring and reporting tools, taking the guesswork out of managing usage and users, while the system's tracking features put you in control regarding the use of the SSL VPN system. Another big plus is that Aventail's SSL VPN platform is network independent. Pocket PC users can therefore use any wireless connection, including mobile/cellular connections or wireless LANs.
"As part of the Aventail SSL VPN platform, ASAP customers can incorporate support for Pocket PC into their overall suite of remote access, allowing IT to use the same policy, platform, and product to support remote access via kiosks, laptops, home office computers, and extranets. This helps eliminate security concerns about wireless cards and costly headaches from the device-by-device work required with existing PDA solutions," according to the company.
Evan Kaplan, president and chief executive of Aventail, sums up the benefits by saying, "Allowing the IT department to treat PDAs just like they would a corporate desktop is a huge win for IT and for the entire remote access market. By mixing the significant benefits of Pocket PC with SSL VPN technology, end users get the mobility they need and IT gets to manage an already in-place security infrastructure. This significant milestone provides IT with a common enterprise-ready system that is simpler and less expensive than multiple offerings."
Secure as a laptop
Aventail comes with excellent credentials. With seven years of SSL VPN experience, it is a recognised leader in this field and has been positioned in the leader Quadrant for Gartner's Managed Remote Access for the last two years.
But is SSL VPNs the way to go? According to the Gartner report, it is. "The simplicity and portability of SSL VPNs can lower the cost to implement remote user VPNs for company-owned work stations and also for access from non-company systems such as personal computers," says Gartner. "Enterprises seeking easier and more flexible ways to deploy secure remote access should consider SSL VPNs for new investments, and as upgrades for legacy VPNs."
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