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New network technology provides corporate users with secure remote data access anytime, anyplace

Secure remote data access is becoming critical as companies expand their mobile computing environments.  Remote data access is no longer limited to  only corporate “road warriors”, and businesses are finding it necessary to provide vendors, partners, customers and sub-contractors with secure remote access to their corporate data.  The introduction of Secure Sockets Layer Virtual Private Network (SSL VPN) technology is a dynamic new method for providing secure and targeted access to remote data users. 

Wouldn’t it be nice to gain access to the data you need from any web browser that supports ActiveX controls?  You can efficiently achieve remote access with an SSL VPN, and you can also limit user access to only the resources they need.  SonicWall’s  new SSL VPN provides these features and more to provide a flexible and powerful platform for remote and mobile users.

Using SSL VPN technology is easy! From any remote location and any computer, the user opens a web browser and goes to a designated URL.  The URL points to an IP   address or domain name that leads to the SSL VPN appliance and a login screen.  Upon successful authentication, the SSL VPN checks for the existence of an ActiveX control.  If the ActiveX control is not installed, the SSL VPN appliance pushes the ActiveX control to the user’s browser, and the user will need the installation rights to setup ActiveX   controls on the computer they are using.  If ActiveX controls are in place, the user is placed on their portal page which contains links to network resources such as remote desktop, terminal server, e-mail, internal web sites or other network shares that they are authorized to access.  Other network resources are unavailable with authorized access.  The portal page can be customized by group and user so the that the user has access to the data they need. 

The technology relies on establishing a connection to a SSL VPN appliance using HTTPS which uses SSL to encrypt the data transmitted between the browser and the user.  The SSL VPN appliance provides the certificate for encryption and controls the session; it runs on the SSL VPN appliance and only the screen changes are transmitted to the user’s web browser. 

The SSL VPN also supports a traditional VPN client.  Included with the SonicWall SSL VPN is Net Extender VPN software that will allow selected users the ability to gain complete access to the network.  By providing the link to the Net Extender software in the user’s portal page, the user can automatically download and install the Net  Extender VPN application.  Once authenticated, the Net Extender application activates automatically on any future session.  This feature allows an end user the ability to map network drives and printers over the SSL VPN connection. 

SonicWall has two SSL VPN solutions, the SSL-VPN 200 and the SSL-VPN 2000.  While neither of the products has a limit to the number of users, the SSL-VPN 200 has a practical limit of 10 users and the SSL-VPN 2000 tops out at 100 users.  These limits are based on the processing power and memory in each of the units.  The solution provides a simple and secure way to provide remote access without the hassle of deploying and maintaining VPN software on users computers. 

Call 732.747.9373 for SSL VPN pricing and to order.

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