Novell Fortifies Remote Access Security with BorderManager 3.8

Novell today announced the immediate availability of Novell® BorderManager® 3.8, which includes role-based access to resources via a virtual private network (VPN), end point security, a standards-based VPN that supports Linux clients and enhanced logging capabilities. With BorderManager 3.8, organizations can provide mobile employees with secure access to their applications from any location and control Internet activities to safeguard against undesirable content. The access control provided by Novell BorderManager is a key component of Novell Nsure™ secure identity management solutions.

"Controlling the resources our employees can access by using the same credentials for our VPN as they use in the office has saved us a lot of time and has helped our employees be more productive while on the road," said Chip DiComo, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics director, Information Infrastructure. "The addition of the client firewall has also secured each of the end points of our network, giving us greater peace of mind."

With its unique VPN traffic rules engine, Novell BorderManager 3.8 uses role-based access controls to give customers the confidence that those accessing information resources only see what they are authorized to see. Instead of providing "all or nothing" access, IT administrators can set access rights for each user based on his or her identity and organizational role in any LDAP-compliant directory.

Open standards support for FreeS/WAN allows BorderManager 3.8 to be used with a Linux VPN client, while LDAP support enables BorderManager to authenticate users against any LDAP-compliant directory service. With an entirely new standards-based VPN, Novell BorderManager 3.8 customers can leverage existing capital investments by interoperating with any of their existing IPsec-certified infrastructure components, such as VPN equipment from dozens of vendors including Cisco, Check Point and Nortel.

"Supporting a wide-range of industry standards means that BorderManager can work in Linux and Windows* environments and is no longer just for NetWare® customers." said Chris Stone, Novell vice chairman - Office of the CEO. "With this release of BorderManager, Novell is expanding its approach to enterprise security by moving beyond simply protecting the enterprise at centralized gateways to securing the end points where organizations are the most vulnerable."

The addition of end point security prevents VPN clients from being unmanaged entry points into the private network by locking them down in accordance with corporate security policies. With the included Novell Client™ Firewall 2.0, organizations can implement a multi-layered security solution that enforces policies at both the gateway and the end point. Multiple methods of authentication can also be set up using a combination of passwords, tokens, smart cards, biometrics and more than 50 supported advanced authentication methods - more than any other VPN on the market.

BorderManager 3.8 integration with Novell Audit gives customers complete, undisputable logging of Internet activity to verify compliance with the organization's Internet use policies. Internet access control capabilities, including support for a wide range of Internet content filtering solutions, can restrict users' Internet activity to prevent the introduction of potentially dangerous or undesirable content onto the private network.

Chris Christiansen, IDC vice president, security products, said, "In today's security-conscious environment, enterprises must deploy an end-to-end secure access solution. Multi-factored authentication, support for standards like LDAP and the ability to manage end point security are essential for companies to securely communicate with employees, customers, partners and other key stakeholders. Recent legislative initiatives, such as Sarbanes-Oxley and HIPAA, also require management to be able to demonstrate to auditors and regulators that they are protecting sensitive corporate data from unauthorized access and tampering."

Novell BorderManager 3.8 is now available for $40 per user through Novell Authorized ResellersSM and solution providers. Upgrade pricing for BorderManager 3.8 is available to current customers and those migrating from competitive products. Novell BorderManager is part of Novell Nsure secure identity management solutions, a combination of products, services and partnerships that helps customers confidently deliver the right resources to the right people - anytime, anywhere.