This post was written by Jason Stella
ForeScout Technologies, Inc., policy management solutions has announced that Sutton Valence School (SVS) has deployed a CounterACT(TM) NAC appliance across its campus network to ensure compliance and protect against self-propagating threats. SVS is now using the ForeScout CT-1000 appliance to protect 1,000 on-campus devices. Sutton Valence has recently opened a new presentation theatre on campus. Though the theatre is a wonderful asset for the school, it brings additional security risks when guest speakers plug-in their laptops and require network access. ForeScout’s CT-1000 protects against these types of threats, helping to optimize uptime and availability of the school’s network.


NCP engineering GmbH announced the 9.1 version of the NCP Secure Enterprise Client. Available in North America on December 5th, this major upgrade to NCP’s universal IPSec VPN client will provide users a flexible, intuitive, bundled client for any Windows-based (Mobile, CE, XS/Vista/32/64-bit) or Symbian system (S60 3rd Edition). The client is seamlessly compatible with any IPSec gateway on the market. It can also be integrated with a network access control (NAC) component to ensure highly secure access to central data networks.
Network access control (NAC) is set to become one of the security channel’s key battlegrounds as resellers move to exploit the sector’s growth potential. According to Infonetics Research, the global NAC market grew 16% sequentially in the first quarter of 2008, hitting $62.7 million (£32 million). The market watcher predicts NAC will continue to surge over the next five years, despite the recent disappearance of some early NAC vendors. With preliminary reports suggesting NAC manufacturers are enjoying an even better Q2, UK VARs are battling it out to gain first-mover advantage.
McAfee, the leading security vendor, has announced that its Unified Secure Access suite will be linking endpoint and network security to access control and compliance. The latest unification offering will have a simpler management, enabling enterprises to deploy the NAC solutions to tackle more situations. The suite can be managed centrally through McAfee’s e-Policy Orchestrator product. Also, it can include McAfee Network Security Platform 5.1, a more expensive and fully featured IPS product than NAC Appliance. The McAfee NAC module is available as a software add-on for Network Security Platform, starting at $2,300.