Avaya Inc. has enhanced its network access policy server to improve enterprise security.
The company said version 8.0 of its Identity Engines solution should meet the needs of organizations with bring your own device strategies by improving security for staff and guest users on a network.
“It really helps an organization say yes to BYOD,” said Allan Hase, a vice-president of networking at Avaya Inc.
Identity Engines is a Linux-based appliance run by what Avaya calls its Ignition Server for wired and wireless networks, with optional modules that add capabilities. The two main additions to version 8.0 are:
–Ignition Access Portal, which automatically registers and “fingerprints” devices that don’t have 802.1x capability or haven’t been configured for 802.1x based access. As a result it gives IT visibility into what’s on the network. Access Portal can be customized and deployed across geographical locations;
–Ignition CASE Client, a dissolvable software client that helps ensure that devices meet specific security requirements before being allowed onto the network. It configures new devices without revealing certificates or shared keys to users. This is particularly useful when business partners with unmanaged laptops need secure but limited access to network resources, for example—the laptops can be configured automatically in seconds and the CASE client disappears from the user’s equipment.
“It really provides a fully-rounded solution that provides visibility, access control and a a very strong policy engine” for enterprises, he said.
Identity Engines works over any vendor network, any type of network and any type of authentication server, Hase said.
Pricing for the base appliance ranges from US$14,000 for a small organization to $24,000 for a large organization. Optional modules, such as guest management and analytics, can push the price up to US$80,000.