Remember when network access control (NAC) was all the rage? Remember the competing standards from Microsoft, Cisco, and the Trusted Computing Group? Back around 2006, there were dozens of NAC products, many of which turned out to be buggy and difficult to implement.
But NAC hasn’t disappeared. In fact, NAC products have evolved and improved as well. I reviewed Enterasys/Extreme Networks Mobile IAM, Hexis Cyber Solutions NetBeat NAC, Impulse Point SafeConnect NAC, Pulse Policy Secure, and Portnox NAC. Overall, Portnox (above) was tops.
Pricing starts at $35 per seat per year with quantity discounts available. It runs on Windows XP with SP3 and later versions. We tested on a small network with both XP and Windows server clients in June 2012.
Wave Systems has developed software tools to work with the trusted computing module that is now included on many desktop and laptop business computers. This video will show you how to deploy it and some of its protective uses.
Wave Systems is a leading provider of self-encrypting drive management solutions. Self-encrypting drives are now included in many desktop and laptop computer hard drives. This video will show you how to deploy it and some of its protective properties.
Price: Starts at $92 per seat MSRP, quantity discounts available
ERAS is a snap-in to Microsoft’s Management Console and integrates with Active Directory. It runs on any Windows Server. We tested it in November 2011.
The latest version of Symantec’s Endpoint Protection software offers a comprehensive defense incorporating sevedifferent security technologies in a single agent-based product that can handle anti-virus, device and application control, network-based intrusions, and phishing attacks. It has a single management console with reports that are easy to understand.
We tested v12.1 on a small network running Windows Server 2003, Mac and Windows XP machines in August 2011.
Price: ranging from $31-$54 per client with volume and competitive discounts available and free 30-day trial for unlimited licenses; Server licensed free.
Supports:
– Endpoints: Windows 7, Vista or XP, Windows Server 2003 & 2008, Windows Small Business Server 2008 & 2011 and Windows Essential Business Server 2008Mac OS, and unmanaged Linux clients
– Manager: Windows 7 or XP, Windows Server 2003 & 2008, Windows Small Business Server 2008 & 2011 and Windows Essential Business Server 2008
Symantec.com
350 Ellis Street
Mountain View, CA 94043
http://go.symantec.com/sep12
If you are tired of patching your many security solutions and are looking for a simple yet effective managed security appliance, Network Box offers a new protection direction. Combining several dozen active scanning technologies, they can provide advanced anti-malware and network protection within seconds of discovering an attack.
Network Box USA
http://blog.networkboxusa.com/david-strom-video/
Price (US only): 100-user enterprise is between $5400 and $11,000 per year for all UTM options enabled.
CoreTrace has a new software-only version 6 that provides solid endpoint protection by only allowing vetted applications to run across your enterprise. There are agents for all 32-bit versions of Windows since 2000 and 64-bit Windows 7 and Server 2008.
CoreTrace Bouncer
http://CoreTrace.com
Pricing begins at $35 per endpoint
If you are looking for a way to run IE v6 on Windows 7 desktops, take a look at Symantec’s Endpoint Virtualization technologies. In less than three minutes you can see how this product works.
The software includes two different modules that are free of charge, including Workspace Virtualization administration and the Browser Selector tools. They are fairly simple to setup and flexible enough to isolate individual applications from the host Windows 7 OS.
Symantec Endpoint Virtualization
http://www.symantec.com/connect/endpoint-virtualization
Entry level pricing starts at $45 per node
An easy-to-use security application that includes anti-virus and intrusion protection that is very affordable and accessible for small business networks.
We tested RC of v12 on a small network running Windows Server 2003 and XP machines.
Pros: Simple to install and to setup default automatic protection, reports easy to understand, priced competitively with anti-virus only solutions
Cons: Only protects Windows PCs; default isn’t to replace built-in Windows firewall
Price: Server licensed free, with $44.99 MSRP per client with volume and competitive discounts available
Free 30-day trial for unlimited licenses
Supports: Windows XP (SP 1 or later), 2000/2003/2008 Servers, NOT on Vista
Symantec’s Endpoint Protection Small Business Edition Symantec.com
20330 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
Napera’s appliance works in conjunction with Microsoft’s Network Access Protection (NAP), and will support three different operating systems: XP with Service Pack 3, Vista, and Mac OS X. It allows for guest and identity-based access. It installs a small agent on each device that is used for the health check, and to help secure your computer and guide you with the remediation process. It also works with both wired and wireless networks too.
Category: Endpoint network security appliance
Pricing: $3495 for 24 gigabit managed ports. There are also stackable add-ons when you have larger networks. While this is expensive compared to other managed switches (Dell sells one for $500), it is a bargain when compared to full-featured NAC products from Cisco and others.
Pros:
Easy to use and setup
No Windows servers required to operate NAP
Cons:
Only Windows XP with SP3supported
Browsers must be at least IE7, Firefox 2 or Safari 3
Windows agents use Active X to install themselves
Napera Networks Inc 9423 SE 36th St Mercer Island, WA 98040
425 747 7142 http://www.napera.com
version tested: N24 v1.2.1
Remember when network access control (NAC) was all the rage? Remember the competing standards from Microsoft, Cisco, and the Trusted Computing Group? Back around 2006, there were dozens of NAC products, many of which turned out to be buggy and difficult to implement.