IT security firm Sophos has announced NAC 3.0, a comprehensive network access control (NAC) solution for protecting against threats posed by unsecured computers.
Giving IT administrators control over business partners, guests and employees accessing their network, NAC 3.0 does not require companies to change their existing network hardware infrastructure, or existing security software solution.
Sophos NAC 3.0 combines assessment and reporting tools with comprehensive policy enforcement capabilities. Organisations can ensure security compliance even before users connect to the enterprise network, whether they are logging on by LAN, remote, wired, wireless, managed or unmanaged endpoints.
Some key functions include:
* Pre-defined assessments covering more than 350 security applications, and more than 600 OS patches with point-and-click inclusion into policy.
* Rapid response to new and unforeseen threats using custom application creation and enforcement.
* Reporting on the state of endpoint compliance over time as well as network access alerts.
* "Is current" functionality automatically updates anti-virus and anti-spyware applications, enabling administrators to set up a policy once and then forget about it.
* Complete, flexible security policies.
"Finding a balance between easy network access and security is always a conundrum for system administrators. Historically, these two applications run independently, requiring more administration-time and related training," says Christian Christiansen, Programme VP, security products and services, IDC.
"An integrated NAC solution strikes the necessary balance by protecting businesses' assets from malicious threats at all endpoints."
Designed with flexibility and ease-of-use in mind, Sophos NAC 3.0 is centrally managed through an intuitive Web interface. System administrators can create and manage policies that can be applied to employees, business partners, consultants and guests who may have access to the network.
Endpoints can be permitted or denied access to the network, automatically remediated, isolated, quarantined, messaged or exempted from policies.
"Organisations allowing visitors to attach unprotected PCs to their networks and users to turn off their firewalls after they have logged into the network, are simply playing with fire," says Brett Myroff, CEO of master Sophos distributor, NetXactics.
"Sophos's policy-driven software NAC solution stops insecure and non-compliant computers from connecting to your network. In addition, it prevents users from exposing networks to threats by stopping them from tampering with security settings."
For more information, visit http://www.sophos.com/security/topic/nac.html.
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Sophos is a world leader in IT security and control. It offers complete protection and control to business, education and government organisations - defending against known and unknown malware, spyware, intrusions, unwanted applications, spam, policy abuse and uncontrolled network access.
Sophos's reliably-engineered, easy-to-operate products protect more than 35 million users in more than 150 countries. Through over 20 years' experience and a global network of threat analysis centres, the company responds rapidly to emerging threats and achieves the highest levels of customer satisfaction in the industry.
Sophos is a global company with headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts and Oxford, UK. For more information on Sophos, visit www.sophos.com.
NetXactics
NetXactics is a South Africa-based company, focused on the provision of security solutions. It is the master distributor for UK-based Sophos, one of the leading providers of security solutions against known and unknown malware, spyware, intrusions, unwanted applications, spam, policy abuse and uncontrolled network access. For more information, visit NetXactics at www.netxactics.co.za.
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