Security
McAfee turns to mobile security
McAfee, Inc. announced a mobile security platform, McAfee Mobile Security, which has been architected, designed and implemented specifically for the mobile ecosystem including operators, manufacturers, enterprises, and consumers.
McAfee Mobile Security provides the technology to deploy embedded and after-market mobile security solutions that will encompass anti-virus, firewall, content filtering, anti-spam and anti-spyware capabilities. McAfee’s flagship product is McAfee VirusScan Mobile.
McAfee VirusScan Mobile is designed from the ground up for mobile protection. It protects mobile devices against threats that originate from e-mail, instant messaging and Internet downloads, and protects multiple entry points including SMS, MMS and Bluetooth. Up-to-date protection is delivered as soon as threats are identified. It is available immediately for Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC, Windows Mobile 2003 Smartphone, Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC, Windows Mobile 5 Smartphone, Symbian Series 60, and Symbian UIQ.
McAfee currently protects employees’ PocketPC mobile devices and the enterprise network from malware and security breaches either via over-the-air downloads or through PC connections. McAfee VirusScan Mobile Enterprise is available for Windows Mobile 2003 PocketPC.
McAfee VirusScan Mobile protects mobile devices from malware, secures personal information and helps ensure critical communication functions always work when on the go. Currently McAfee supports the PocketPC and Smartphone operating systems with a downloadable version of VirusScan Mobile. McAfee will provide support for the Symbian Series 60 this month. VirusScan Mobile will also be available in French, German, Spanish and Italian by the end of February.
NetIQ designs VoIP security product
NetIQ Corp., a provider of integrated systems and security management solutions, launched the NetIQ VoIP Security Solution to address organizations’ increasing needs to assure the security of their VoIP environments. The NetIQ VoIP Security Solution enables those using Cisco IP Telephony to improve security by reducing exposure time and protecting against loss of confidential data, and is based on NetIQ’s experience with managing more than 400,000 IP phones.
The current NetIQ systems management solution for VoIP monitors the health and performance of the IP telephony infrastructure to help ensure call quality and availability. The NetIQ VoIP Security Solution expands upon these capabilities by aggregating and correlating security event information collected from the NetIQ AppManager for Cisco IP Telephony product, the NetIQ Security Manager product and the AppManager/Security Manager Connector. It enables organizations to both monitor the performance and availability of their VoIP environments and to detect VoIP security threats on a real-time basis. The NetIQ VoIP Security Solution also correlates security events and logs them for audit purposes and for performing analysis and forensics.
The NetIQ VoIP Security Solution comprises: AppManager for Cisco IP Telephony-Security option, which monitors a VoIP environment in real-time to detect security events and configuration changes; AppManager Call Data Analysis, which analyzes call detail records to identify abuse patterns and provides complete reports based on the records; and Security Manager for IP Telephony, which applies correlation rules to security events to identify threats and logs security event information for auditing and forensic purposes NetIQ’s VoIP Security Solution will be available in the first quarter of 2006. Pricing starts at US$6.00 per IP phone for real-time VoIP security monitoring.
Tivoli ID Manager Express designed for SMBs
IBM announced security software to help small and medium sized businesses – from local credit unions to health clinics – deal with security threats such as insider attacks and automate compliance efforts. The software – Tivoli Identity Manager Express – is designed to help thwart insider attacks by blocking people from using usernames and accounts that the company neglected to cancel.
With Tivoli Identity Manager Express, smaller businesses can eliminate orphan accounts by enabling managers to control who has access to information and continuously matching their pool of user accounts with current employee information.
The software is also designed to simplify compliance efforts for smaller businesses by cutting down the time it takes to compile information and prepare reports from days to hours. It can automatically collect and format information so it’s ready to be submitted to the compliance auditor. The software can even detect potential attempts to steal customers by indicating who has accessed sensitive sales information and who approved their access for a valid business reason.
Tivoli Identity Manager Express is also designed to help companies cut down the cost of managing passwords. When employees forget or lose passwords, they often waste time “on hold” with a help desk which industry research says is costing businesses about $20 for each password reset request. IBM’s software enables employees to automatically secure a new password on their own, in minutes. It also enables new employees or contractors to request and receive a new user account in minutes, a process that can take up to 12 days, especially for smaller businesses, IBM said. Tivoli Identity Manager Express will be available on Feb. 28.
Networking
Nortel puts focus on secure network access
Nortel Networks announced the availability of the Nortel Secure Network Access Switch, the new cornerstone of its Secure Network Access (SNA) solution. The solution is designed to provide enterprise-wide endpoint security by ensuring that any device trying to access the network complies with a common set of security policies.
Nortel’s Secure Network Access solution has already been successfully deployed with customers globally to provide endpoint security for remote VPN applications. The Nortel Secure Network Access Switch now extends this security policy enforcement to the enterprise LAN.
The Nortel SNA solution works with Microsoft Network Access Protection (NAP), an architecture and interface for network access. Nortel is working closely with Microsoft to deliver assured Network Access Protection support across Nortel’s enterprise product line. Nortel plans to have its switches, routers and gateways include smart ports that can communicate with Microsoft’s RADIUS-based Network Policy Server and Network Access Protection clients, enabling the enforcement of a common set of security policies across Nortel and Microsoft platforms in the network.
The Nortel Secure Network Access Switch acts as an intelligent security gateway, coordinating a single security policy across the enterprise network. The switch works with Nortel’s VPN routers, VPN gateways, and Ethernet Routing switches and is planned to support third party platforms in future releases. It is designed to ensure that any PC or other device attempting to access the network is fully compliant with all required antivirus, software patch, and firewall security policies. Once connected to the network, devices are then subject to proactive, always-on monitoring to identify critical changes in individual PCs that may affect network security.
Infrastructure
Lexmark adds to enterprise printer line
Lexmark Canada Inc. announced five monochrome multifunction laser printers, the Lexmark X644e, X646dte, X850e, X852e and X854e.
All five devices feature a redesign of Lexmark’ eTask interface, which can be customized to simplify complicated business processes with the touch of a single icon. The colour eTask interface is designed so users can easily perform basic or advanced tasks without training. It can also be adjusted to each customer’s optimal viewing angle.
With maximum speeds ranging from 35 to 55 pages per minute (ppm), these multifunction printers feature duplex colour scanning capabilities and standard scan preview capabilities as well as the ability to scan to or print from a USB flash memory device.
These multifunction printers can also be enhanced with Lexmark’s Embedded Solutions Framework (eSF), which is a platform that allows for the development of Java-based applications directly on Lexmark MFPs. It also allows document tracking capabilities, while the Embedded Document Accounting Solution provides data on print, copy, fax and scan usage at each device. The Lexmark X644e, X646dte, X850e, X852e and X854e offer enterprise-level security options such as disk wiping, encryption, IPSec, SSL, SNMPv3, 802.1x and secure user authentication to help customers control information access and address other security concerns.
The Lexmark X644e has an estimated Canadian street price of $3,199, the X646dte costs $4,299, the X850e costs $10,199, the X852e costs $11,649, and the X854e costs $12,999.
SolutionInc. brings centralization to Enterprise line
SolutionInc Ltd. released a version of its enterprise carrier class software system, SolutionIP Enterprise. The company’s broadband access technology system provides operators with a solution for deployment, management and billing of their broadband service offerings.
SolutionIP Enterprise allows service providers to offer Internet services across entire communities, municipalities, campus settings, hot spots, Wi-Fi zones, hot zones and Wi-Fi networks. From the central network operation centre the provider can manage the Internet services and control the network for thousands of hot spots, properties and end users. The platform was built to handle millions of Internet connections.
The system centralized management, service domain management, service location management, localized options and services, advanced registration integrated with third party authentication and roaming services, advanced security and flexible billing. It supports Layer 2 and Layer 3 networks as well as various typologies including wired, wireless, Wi-Fi, cable, DSL, Ethernet over power, Ethernet over coax, WiMax and mesh networks.
Data Management
Novell tackles compliance with Audit2
Novell today announced Novell Audit 2, a set of tools for customers to monitor and audit user access and other network events across the enterprise, a critical requirement in complying with regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley, HIPAA and Basel II.
Available immediately, the product creates a centralized view of network events across multiple platforms and enterprise applications to simplify compliance audits and reports. As a result, customers can control user access to information and resources, streamline auditing processes, and verify regulatory compliance more accurately with less staff, Novell said.
Customers can now centralize Windows 2000 and 2003 Server event logs for complete cross-platform reporting in addition to collecting system events from across the Novell product line. Also new is the capability to filter and incorporate data from legacy systems without the need for custom programming. Customers can now integrate audit results into the pre-defined reports in Novell Identity Manager 3 and automate the documentation process, thus avoiding time-intensive, manual reviews.
Wireless
BelAir200 handles wireless mesh backhaul
BelAir Networks announced the availability of a wireless mesh backhaul product for mobile network operators. The BelAir200 now supports direct connection to GSM or 3G microcell and picocell base stations through a T1/E1 Circuit Emulation Module (CEM).
By using wireless mesh to interconnect microcells for cellular backhaul traffic, operators can achieve savings over the dedicated wired T1 and E1 lines typically used.
The BelAir cellular backhaul system is designed to offer mobile operators a viable business case for broader deployment of microcells and picocells in dense urban environments, reduced installation cost by eliminating the need for wired backhaul at each microcell location and reduced operating cost by aggregating traffic from multiple microcells to a single broadband wired connection. It is also designed to improve reliability with multiple data paths through the mesh network, and increased network flexibility by eliminating the need for line of sight between wired locations and microcells.
Multiple microcells are connected to a common wireless mesh network and all traffic is forwarded through to a single wired location. The T1/E1 CEM contains advanced clock recovery algorithms that meet Base Transceiver Station (BTS) timing requirements. BelAir’s wireless mesh delivers the bandwidth and QoS needed to support the capacity of up to eight T1s or six E1s over as many as five wireless hops.