Networking
Juniper Networks and Microsoft delivers network access control
Juniper Networks Inc. and Microsoft Corp. announced the companies are working together to provide customers and partners with open standards-based interoperability between Juniper Networks Unified Access Control (UAC) and Microsoft Network Access Protection (NAP).
Microsoft has contributed NAP’s primary Statement of Health (SOH) client-server protocol to the TCG. The TCG has adopted and published the Microsoft SOH protocol as TNC standard (IF-TNCCS-SOH). This will enable interoperability of NAP clients and servers with TNC clients, servers and infrastructure such as the Juniper Networks UAC solution.
The Juniper Networks Infranet Controller will be able to leverage the built-in security assessment capabilities and the SOH protocol provided by the NAP agent built into the Windows Vista and Microsoft Windows XP operating systems. Microsoft Network Policy Server (NPS) brings an ecosystem of NAP health agents and will be able to interoperate with the Juniper Networks UAC solution in heterogeneous network environments. Microsoft NPS can either act as a policy server or be leveraged by the Juniper Networks Infranet Controller for rich endpoint information. Microsoft is announcing that Windows Vista supports this protocol and Windows Server 2008 and Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) will support it as well later this year. The Juniper Networks UAC solution is expected to support the TNC standard in the first half of 2008.
Among the expected benefits of NAP/UAC interoperability will be:
- Access and threat control
- Investment protection
- Support for heterogeneous environments
Avangate brings integrated licence renewal for maximized sales
Avangate BV released a feature of its AvangateR solution – licence renewal and subscription. The feature manages the renewal for time limited licences.
The process is automatic and the set-up wizard can be done in four steps: set the renewal options, import existing licences, set the renewal options for each product and define the product discounts. Software vendors can import existing licences into the Avangate platform, set discounts to be sent with renewal messages and allow for a specific grace period after licence expiration, using a unique discount coupon. The solution also integrates a notification module that sends e-mails to customers reminding them to renew their licences, with a customizable number of days before expiration.