* SonicWall's SSL-VPN 4000 supports 200 simultaneous VPN sessions
In the last newsletter I noted SonicWall’s new branch office appliance, this time I’d like to talk about the company’s recently announced larger head-end device.
The SSL-VPN 4000 supports 200 simultaneous VPN sessions, which could be enough for 10 times that many users depending on how heavily they use the VPN.
With the new boxes comes a software upgrade for all SonicWall VPN gateways that makes the gear compatible with RSA and Vasco security tokens, making it possible to beef up VPN security. Two-factor authentication such as these tokens is much more secure than simply user name and password logons.
This is particularly important for SSL VPNs, one strength of which is they can make it possible for users to connect to the VPN from any Internet-connected computer. Given that flexibility, VPN administrators will want to make sure that the person using one of these remote machine is actually authorized. The tokens help make that determination more sure.
The new software also supports one-time passwords of its own. Customers log on, receive a one-time password via e-mail or Short Message Service text message to a cell phone, and enter that password. So as with tokens, customers must have their cell phone with them or be able to access their e-mail account.
The SSL-VPN 4000 is available now and costs $7,000, which includes a license for 200 concurrent users. There is no per-user fee.
