Smartphones to get VPN

Aventail is preparing to ship the first SSL VPN for Windows Mobile smartphones, designed to let workers securely access company email and applications, while administrators can apply a set of unified policies covering handsets and laptops.

Due for availability later this summer, Aventail Connect Mobile is an add-on for the company’s line of VPN network appliances and supports both smartphone and Pocket PC versions of Windows Mobile 5.0 and 6. It also supports roaming, so users need not re-authenticate if they switch networks.

“Ten years ago, companies were happy to put a perimeter around their network, but now the majority of users may be outside that perimeter,” said Aventail marketing director Chris Witeck.

At the same time, mobile phones are moving beyond personal productivity tools and gaining access to enterprise resources. The solution is to extend the SSL VPN to handle mobile devices, according to Aventail.

Witeck said that the Aventail VPN enables users to access corporate email on their handset without the need for a wireless server situated in the DMZ, and also opens up access to enterprise applications from mobile devices.

The client can ensure that antivirus tools are running before establishing the VPN connection and can also check the identity of devices via a watermark or certificate on the client.

“If the device gets lost or stolen, you just revoke the certificate and it no longer has access,” said Witeck.

Pricing starts at $1,095 (£550).

See also:

Review: Aventail EX-750 Appliance

Secure remote access with pre-flight check-in  18 Dec 2006

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