Cylink Corp. Monday announced a new version of its NetHawk VPN (virtual private network) that adds new security features and remote access options.
Cylink's NetHawk 3.0 VPN offers a host of new features, including IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) for remote users, support for up to 20,000 simultaneous connections, improved scalability, simplified monitoring and configuration and PKI (public key infrastructure) support, the company said.
A VPN is a private network that uses the Internet to transmit secure, encrypted communications and allows remote users and telecommuters to access a corporate network as if they were on a LAN. Running a VPN requires both client software and hardware.
The NetHawk 3.0 client also adds Perfect Forward Security, which offers enhanced key-based security, an LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) server for accessing publishing policies, a Certificate Manager for digital certificates, support for both internal and external certificate authorities and a connection monitor that displays information about the VPN connection, Cylink said. Also bolstered are management options, adding support for external PKI and Cylink's NetHawk Privacy Manager application which allows for central control of all NetHawk applications on a network, according to the company.
NetHawk 3.0 supports Windows 95, 98, NT and 2000 and is immediately available worldwide. The Cylink hardware needed to operate the VPN ranges in price from US$3,000 to $7,500 and includes unlimited client installations.