Remote access network assures data security, ROI

BANGALORE:Remote access, a key aspect of today's enterprise, not only enables customers access the network from any corner of the globe resulting in comprehensive, fast and safe transaction but also ensures data security. Aventail's SSL VPN application is one such solution, which has driven more and more customers to deploy the duct.

In an interview with Ambika Prakash of CIOL, Ajay Kumar N, Country Manager, Aventail, briefs how remote access supports small and medium business (SMBs) accelerate the business process cost-effectively.

CIOL: Your views on enabling remote access for customers?

Ajay Kumar: Remote access is an ability to access the resources that are meant for private use from a public domain. This could be feasible through Internet. Incorporating remote access in infrastructure enables customers, vendors or any third party people to log onto a network outside the parent company and access the necessary data without disturbing the data security.

CIOL: What are the factors that are driving end-users to deploy remote access?

AK: PC penetration, advanced features in mobiles, smart phones, availability of Internet, giving a local touch to international problems are some of the factors that have enabled end-users to get access to remote access. One time investment on product without leading to additional costs such as training, investment on security solutions and return on investment (ROI) are also the added reasons.

CIOL: How are the end-users looking at enabling remote access?

AK: With business sector looking at reaping considerable ROI by securing the data, it is inevitable for entrepreneurs to deploy such solutions, which simplify work processes cost-effectively with increase in production. In fact, IT has been a major requirement to have a hassle-free administration in any industry. Thus, IT solutions are no longer a niche products.

CIOL: How does Aventail's products help in offering remote access to end-users?

AK: Our workforce is becoming more mobile and demanding access to corporate resources from everywhere and from all types of devices. In order to bring in robust and smooth business, it is essential for customers to gain control over the applications or machines. In this regard, Aventail has rolled out SSL VPN (virtual private network) appliances, which would definitely be of great help to end-users.

Today, SSL VPN is a market leader delivering remote access control solutions that are the easiest to use and easiest to control.

EX-2500, built upon the enhanced technology of Aventail's ST2+ SSL VPN platform, provides high availability and scalability, and complete reach to all network resources with granular policy and bi-directional access controls. It is well suited for enterprises that support hundreds or thousands of internal and external end users.

Ex-1600 SSL VPN appliance provides employees, customers, and business partners with easy-to-use clientless access to network resources from any Internet-enabled device. With this, users increase productivity with fast, transparent secure access to a full range of critical Web and client/server applications-including e-mail and collaboration programs such as Microsoft Outlook and Lotus Notes, as well as key business applications from SAP, PeopleSoft, and Oracle.

EX-750 is a full-featured, clientless SSL VPN appliance tailored to companies or departments that will not grow beyond 25 concurrent users. The product delivers the benefits of Aventail's secure and easy-to-manage SSL VPN technology-on a smaller scale at a cost-effective price.

Besides these, the introduction of 'unified policy' in SSL VPN products centralizes control of all users, groups, resources, and devices, allowing administrators to quickly set a single policy across all objects. No matter it is laptop, mobile, computer etc; installation of application is what matters to access needed information on hand-held device.

Sal's security concerns incorporated a closed security model and is "deny" by default. SSL was specifically designed with secure access in mind. SSL VPNs control access is based on three factors - a named resource, the user identity, and the level of trust for an end device, rather than simply at the network level.