CEQURUX announces Firewall 4.1

Introducing advanced VirusWall technology, major feature enhancements

Internet security company CEQURUX has released version 4.1 of its firewall, VPN, and authentication suite, bundled as the CEQURUX Firewall.

Firewall 4.1 includes CEQURUX`s advanced VirusWall technology that automates virus scanning at the firewall. Other major enhancements include IPSec support for roaming users, improved remote support, seamless mail integration, and reporting performance improvements.

VirusWall, using licensed virus libraries from UK-based Sophos, gives administrators a single point of control for virus scanning on their networks.

"This encourages virus management from a central console, and eliminates the need for a separate virus-scanning server, improving the firewall`s efficiency while reducing the cost of hardware and processing time," says CEQURUX R&D director Dr. Graham Wheeler VirusWall breaks e-mail messages into separate components, each of which is scanned individually by the virus engine. Offending messages can then be blocked, cleaned, or passed on to the user with a virus alert report.

"Sophos gave us the stability and support we were looking for to be able to integrate its anti-virus code with 4.1," adds Wheeler.

"Integrating virus scanning with the firewall makes sense in the broader context of Internet security, but should only form part of a company-wide antivirus and security strategy."

Wheeler believes it`s still advisable to install virus scanners on individual Windows workstations.

"Firewall 4.1 will ship with a recent Sophos library, but as we all know the number and type of viruses changes continually. Users will need to register the antivirus component with Sophos to receive unique names and passwords for its software. These will then be used by the firewall to automatically update its virus signature files and library online."

Major feature enhancements

CEQURUX Firewall 4.1 also offers enhanced IPSec support, in particular support for roaming users. Firewall-to-firewall VPN tunnels can be configured using IPSec in tunnel mode with Internet Key Exchange (IKE) and client-to-firewall IPSec connections can be configured using IPSec in transport mode with IKE. Previously, the firewall had to know the IP address of each remote user in advance. Firewall 4.1 accommodates remote users whose IP addresses are allocated dynamically by their Internet Service Provider. This allows remote users to securely access TCP-based services such as email, FTP, HTTP, and HTTPS.

CEQURUX Firewall 4.1 introduces several other major features, including:

• Multiple domain names for public NNTP, POP3 and HTTPS servers;

• Seamless mail (intercept mail without reconfiguring mail clients);

• Support for non-standard mail ports;

• POP before SMTP support;

• Multiple simultaneous Web-based reports;

• Strong user authentication capabilities extended to BSD, Linux and Solaris.

CEQURUX Firewall 4.1 maintains the same installation and registration innovations of version 4.0, with a few notable enhancements.

"Administrators can perform a non-destructive update to version 4.1 from 4.0, retaining all configuration settings and log messages," says Wheeler.

Auto-registration can now be carried out from a different IP address than the original installation site. This helps companies that want to install and configure the firewall at one site and deploy it at another."

Wheeler says CEQURUX Firewall will continue to offer the medium to large enterprise a feature-rich alternative to high-end firewall products (costing hundreds of thousands of Rand) at a fraction of the price.

"Firewall 4.1, although an incremental upgrade, is an indication of the speed and complexity of development we`ve committed to deliver on a regular basis with ongoing feedback from our clients," he adds. "While the product is developed locally using local skills, it is designed for the broader Internet community; and has extensive global representation."

CEQURUX Firewall 4.1 is available immediately from authorised CEQURUX VARs. A free 60-day trial period, introduced with version 4.0 for the benefit of channel demonstrations, is also available. For more information contact Christo Brits on (082) 890 8167, or e-mail christo@cequrux.com.