AEP debuts network access control appliance

AEP Networks at Interop this week is announcing NACPoint, an appliance that guards against improperly configured computers attaching to networks.

The device authenticates users, scans their machines for proper security posture and quarantines those that come up short on a VLAN where they can be updated to come into compliance.

The product is OEMed from LockDown Networks and has been customized to support AEP's SSL VPN gateways called NSPs. So devices logging in via the VPN can be checked before they gain access to network resources.

The devices can also interoperate with third-party remediation products, so if a computer is found to have an unpatched operating system, it can be linked to a patch-management platform that that can install the necessary patches.

NACPoint is expected to be available in November and ranges in price from $5,000 with a 250-user license to $25,000 with a 1,000-user license.

AEP is also announcing an upgrade to software for its NSP products that supports thin-client access to Windows Terminal Services. This is done via an alliance with Ericom to use that company's PowerTerm WebConnect software.

The software provides a thin client that communicates with a PowerTerm server, similar to Citrix MetaFrame. So end users can connect securely to business networks via the VPN, then use terminal services using PowerTerm clients and servers.

The addition of a thin client gives AEP a product line more in sync with Citrix, which also sells an SSL VPN gateway.

Another NSP upgrade by AEP enables clustering and load balancing among as many as 10 appliances for deployment at heavily used sites.