Welcome to the latest issue of the VPNC Update. We hope you find the news in this issue valuable.
Users' definitions of a virtual private network change over time, usually encompassing new technologies that allow private access to network resources. In the early days, a VPN consisted of a trusted network over a non-IP backbone. Later, trusted VPNs expanded to IP backbones. With the advent of IPsec, VPNs expanded to include systems that use strong encryption over the public Internet.
IPsec is, of course, not the only technology that uses strong encryption to protect Internet-based traffic. SSL and its newer embodiment, TLS, have long been used to protect shoppers on the web. In the past few years, many vendors (including some of VPNC's current members) have extended the use of SSL into the VPN arena by making it a viable alternative for secure remote access to corporate networks.
Of course, IPsec is already commonly used for secure remote access. However, IPsec for secure remote access typically requires software installation on the remote users' computers as well as a fair amount of management by the VPN administrator. Secure remote access with SSL, on the other hand, requires no (or sometimes a little) new software on remote users' computers and significantly less management at the corporate site. Although sometimes less convenient, the major advantage of IPsec is that remote users can have true access to the corporate network, whereas remote access with SSL limits users to particular individual programs on a small number of servers. Thus, some users will prefer one technology over another when faced with the problems of making networked resources available securely to remote users.
Because an ever-growing number of customers see the secure remote access over SSL market as part of the overall VPN market, VPNC will expand its list of VPN technologies. In the coming months, we will update our popular VPN Technologies: Definitions and Requirements document to say exactly where remote access over SSL is and is not a VPN technology, and will add remote access SSL features to our VPNC members features chart. Of course, as we add new members to the consortium, we will welcome vendors who specialize in VPNs for remote access over SSL to our growing list of members who offer trusted, secure, and hybrid VPNs. Stay tuned for more announcements in this area!
This month, one product received the logo for AES Interoperability:
See the VPNC testing page for full lists of all the VPNC members' products which have proven interoperability and conformance.
ADTRAN
ADTRAN All-In-One Network Access Solution Redefines Branch Office Connectivity
Check Point Software
Check Point Positioned in the Leader Quadrant in Gartner Firewall Report
Check Point Software
Check Point Software's InterSpect Named "Hot Pick" by Information Security
Magazine
Cisco
Cisco Systems Completes Acquisition of Twingo Systems
Cisco
Bharti Infotel and Cisco Systems to Empower Enterprise Networks
CyberGuard
CyberGuard Wins SC Award For Best Firewall For Third Year Running
Encore Networks
Dynavar Networking Selects Encore Networks To Bridge Legacy Networks To IP
Inkra
COMDEPOT Enhances Managed Service Delivery With Inkra Networks
Virtual Service Switch
Inkra
Egenera, Inkra And 3PAR Power SAVVIS Virtualized Services
Delivery Platform
Juniper Networks
Juniper Networks Positioned in the Leader Quadrant in Enterprise
Firewall Magic Quadrant
Juniper Networks
NetScreen Raises the Bar with Next-Generation Integrated Network
Security Platform
NETGEAR
NETGEAR Launches Industry's First VPN Wizard Designed For Small to
Medium Businesses
Nokia
Nokia TETRA to serve France's largest airports
SafeNet
SafeNet To Demonstrate SafeEnterprise Security Management Center
At DISA Partnership Conference
ServGate
ServGate Secures Southern California's Journey Electrical Technologies
Secure NCP Bypass Solutions Over Satellite And Terrestrial Networks from Encore Networks describes how to covert legacy networking protocols, particularly SDLC, to IP in both trusted and secure VPNs. As much as many of us would like to think that the world has converted to IP-based networking, there are still many sites that use old and often proprietary methods. This paper gives many examples of how older networks can be encapsulated in VPNs, even over satellite links.
Networld+Interop Spring
Las Vegas, NV / May 9-14, 2004
Probably the largest networking show in the world, this conference has a
sizable show floor for vendors and a large, fast-paced educational track.
Because of the large attendance, many VPNC members regularly exhibit at N+I.
VPNC's director, Paul Hoffman, will be speaking about VPN technologies
at the session titled "What VPN? Choosing the Right Technology To Fit
Your Requirements".
MPLScon 2004
New York / May 24-27, 2004
The trusted VPN industry mostly revolves around MPLS, and
MPLScon is by far the most important event for the MPLS market.
The conference has a strong educational component, as well as
a large exhibit space. VPNC's director, Paul Hoffman, will be
chairing the MPLS VPNs and MPLS security sessions.
The VPNC Update is a low-volume, one-way mailing list to inform people about news in the VPN industry. Subscription is open to all, members and non-members. If you have questions about the content of VPNC Update, or suggestions or information for future issues, please send them to Paul Hoffman, VPNC's director.
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