Aventail claims its package is unique in providing a single gateway and a "common management and user experience" across all device types, including desktop and laptop PCs, kiosks, and mobile devices. The company says its software optimizes application content so that users only receive access to applications that are appropriate to the particular device type being used. This eliminates the distraction of links to applications that aren't appropriate for mobile devices, according to the company.
Aventail's Secure Mobile Access package includes two mobile access options:
- WorkPlace Mobile is described as a customized Web portal, that allows easy, clientless access to Web-based applications from any mobile device.
- Connect Mobile is described as a light-weight, Web-deployed agent that provides Windows Mobile PDA users with broad access to both Web and client/server applications.
To ensure security and control, mobile devices are only allowed access based on user identity and security of the device, Aventail says. The software interrogates the end point and classifies the device into a "Policy Zone," allowing access only to authorized and relevant applications. Authorized users are only given access directly to named resources with no direct network connection, unlike IPSec and other approaches that give open network access to devices, according to the company.
"As mobile devices populate and play a larger role in enterprise networks, it is imperative that SSL VPNs embrace this capability," said Aventail CEO Evan Kaplan. "We believe that individual mobile gateways will go away and these features and capabilities will be built into SSL VPN platforms, which are quickly becoming the application gateway for all devices, resources, and users."
Aventail's Secure Mobile Access package will be available in Q4 2005, according to the company. WorkPlace Mobile will be included in the overall Aventail Smart SSL VPN platform, whereas Connect Mobile is an add-on feature priced from $995.
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