Perhaps what Windows 7 really needs is an IPsec client -- and now it has one. Interestingly, when Windows 7 is combined with Windows Server 2008 R2 the two can use a feature called DirectAccess, that makes a VPN obsolete. But DirectAccess leaves out all other Windows clients (Vista, XP, Windows Mobile, for instance) and all other versions of Windows servers, as well as the rest of the operating system universe. So, as a practical matter the corporate VPN isn't likely going anywhere soon, even if you opt to upgrade all your company's aging XP desktops to Windows 7 (and that, remains debateable).
Enter German security developer NCP Engineering with what it claims to be the first universal IPsec VPN client for Windows 7 -- even though the OS is still in beta reports TechWorld. It is making this IPsec beta client software available for free on a 30-day trial.
The comapny says that this client will broker the Windows 7 connection to any backend IPsec gateway. "Once the client has been installed on a device, users can connect to third-party IPSec gateways without needing to change settings or certificates," an official at the company is quoted as saying. The company promises that the client can import existing VPN profiles, including Cisco pcf files, WatchGuard wgx files and SafeNet spd files. Of course, it also supports NCP's own Secure Enterprise Server.
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