Security Featured Article

Nortel (News - Alert) has enhanced its solution for network access control (NAC) by adding open, flexible protection to its intelligent, automated network access and security offering for IT managers battling the rising threat of computer viruses, worms and other malware.

 

Nortel Secure Network Access 2.0 (SNA 2.0), available immediately worldwide, adds new enforcement modes that enable NAC implementation and management across VoIP, unified communications (UC) and data environments from Nortel, Cisco (News - Alert), HP and others.

This gives IT managers multiple deployment options for greater flexibility and protects existing investments.

 

The new enforcement modes — based on the 802.1X and SNMP standards — supplement existing support for DHCP and Nortel's SSCP protocol to provide the multi-vendor capability.

 

Nortel's SNA 2.0 solution also adds seamless integration with Microsoft (News - Alert) Network Access Protection (NAP) even before upgrading to Windows Server 2008. This makes it possible to extend granular security policies to devices throughout an enterprise, including IP phones, printers and other non-interactive devices. It also supplements Windows with support for Linux and Mac environments.

 

The complete SNA 2.0 solution features Nortel's Secure Network Access Switch Series including the new SNAS 4070 with enhanced, enterprise-class scalability. SNAS 4070 supports as many as 6,000 concurrent end points in a single system or more than 23,000 in a clustered configuration.

 

As verified in independent testing by The Tolly Group, Nortel's SNAS Series provides highly flexible and scalable deployment, investment protection, NAP integration, a broad range of device support and up to 63 percent less energy consumption than the comparable solution from the leading competitor.

 

Nortel's SNA 2.0 solution authenticates user identity, granting access only to trusted users. Access is role-based, limiting users to information and applications authorized for their specific roles - employee, contractor or guest, for example.

 

"As companies continue migrating to Unified Communications (News - Alert) for the increased competitive advantage this can provide, they need choices designed to address their unique network and information security needs," said Aziz Khadbai, vice president and general manager, converged data networks, Nortel, in a statement.

 

Khadbai added: "Secure Network Access is a true, open solution that greatly simplifies network access and protection. It doesn't tie companies down to a single vendor or proprietary approach. It gives network managers greater choice and greater flexibility. And it can be the difference between a secure network and dealing with the consequences."

 

Nortel is a major player in delivering communications capabilities that make the promise of Business Made Simple a reality for the customers. The company’s next-generation technologies, for both service provider and enterprise networks, support multimedia and business-critical applications.

 

Nortel's technologies are designed to help eliminate today's barriers to efficiency, speed and performance by simplifying networks and connecting people to the information they need, when they need it. Nortel does business in more than 150 countries around the world.

 

"Investment protection and flexibility are key attributes in an environment like education where budget dollars are hard to come by," said Jeff Klock, senior network specialist, technical and information services for the Durham District School Board (Whitby, Ontario), which has successfully completed a beta test of Nortel's SNA 2.0. "We were able to confirm that this solution can be scaled and implemented with ease and without network redesign or new switching equipment."

 

"The on-going and unpredictable nature of new viruses and other harmful intrusions makes flexible secure networking solutions absolutely critical," said Manlio Vecchiet, director, Windows Server marketing, Microsoft. "The integration of Microsoft's NAP with Nortel's Secure Network Access gives businesses a strong tool to address that need."