Web/E-business /

Interactive scorecard and NetResults: Web access control packages

Network World Fusion, 05/28/01

Every network is unique. This calculator lets you change the weights given to scores from our review to see how this product might be best suited for your needs.

Here's how it works:
New scoring for reviews
As of Jan. 8, Network World has switched its scoring scale. We will now score products on a scale of 1 to 5, rather than 1 to 10. We feel that scoring on a 1 to 5 range would be more easily understood than previous methods. As it relates to school grades, the new scoring would establish 1=D, 2=C, 3=B, 4=A. A score of 5 would be the exceptional score - a scholastic equivalent would be scoring an A in an honors class.

For each category below, assign the percentage weight you think is most appropriate. The percent-o-meter box on the right will keep track of your weightings to let you know when you've reached 100%. When you fill in the last box, hit your enter key, and you'll see how the apps rate (along with our final score for comparison).

Percent-
o-meter

Category	Our weight	Your weight
Administration/ Management	20%	%
Security	20%	%
Enterprise feature	20%	%
Performance	20%	%
Installation/ documentation	10%	%
Service	10%	%

Results table

Below, you'll find the 1-5 score given to each app by our reviewers. To obtain the final score: Multiply each individual score by the weighting given that category, then add up all those resulting numbers.

Secure-
Control NetPoint Site-
Minder Directory-
Smart GetAccess Webthority

Admin./
Mgmt. 4 3.5 3.5 3 3 3

Security 4.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5

Ent. features 4.5 4 4 3.5 3.5 3.5

Perf. 3.5 3.5 3.5 3 3 3

Install/
doc. 3.5 3 3 3 3 3.5

Service-
ability 4 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3

Our total 4.05 3.55 3.55 3.25 3.25 3.25

YOUR TOTAL

Scoring key:
5: Exceptional showing in this category. Defines the standard of excellence;
4: Very good showing. Although there may be room for improvement, this product was much better than average;
3: Average showing in this category. Product was neither especially good nor exceptionally bad;
2: Below average. Lacked some features or lower performance than other products, or than was expected;
1: Considerably subpar, or lacking features being reviewed.

NetResults

Blue Ribbon winner ClearTrust SecureControl 4.5
Rating: 4.05
Company: Securant Technologies, (415) 764-4900
Cost: Starts at $20 per user.
Pros: Useful Smart Rules and Event Action and testing utilities; integration with Check Point Firewall.
Cons: Requires underlying Oracle database, requires manual editing of an .ini file.

NetPoint 4.0
Rating: 3.55
Company: Oblix, (408) 861-6800, Fax (408) 861-6810
Cost: $50 per user
Pros: Active Automation feature, provides workflow capabilities, uses Active Directory for user and program store, useful test feature.
Cons: Complex installation-configuration.

SiteMinder 4.5
Rating: 3.55
Company: Netegrity, (800) 325-9870
Cost: Pricing starts at $15 per user.
Pros: Useful Active Responses and testing features, uses Active Directory for user and program store, flexible programming options.
Cons: Complex installation-configuration, customization needed to send e-mail notification of failed logons.

Webthority 3.01
Rating: 3.25
Company: Symantec, (408) 253-9600,
Cost: Concurrent user pricing model starting at $25,000.
Pros: Product infrastructure (proxy method) provides support for any Web server.
Cons: Did not run on Windows 2000, interface is not intuitive.

DirectorySmart 4.5
Rating: 3.25
Company: OpenNetwork Technologies, (727) 561-9500
Cost: Variable models based on per user, per CPU and enterprise licenses.
Pros: Online system auditing tool, user specific portal pages, uses Active Directory for user and program store.
Cons: Need more reporting capabilities and stronger self-registration support.

GetAccess 4.5
Rating: 3.25
Company: Entrust Technologies, (888) 690-2424
Cost: Pricing starts at $11 per user for 5,000 users.
Pros: Ability to generate individualized portal pages, wireless support
Cons: Difficulties integrating Active Directory, Windows 2000 not completely supported.

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