Remote, Extranet Access With SSL VPN Tool

By Shyla Sangaran

JUNIPER Networks has unveiled the Secure Access 6000 SP series, which it claims is the only carrier-class secure sockets layer (SSL) virtual private network (VPN) solution in the market that offers end- to-end application layer, network layer and access management virtualisation, enabling service providers to offer remote and extranet access.

Its regional director Asean and India Vijay Valayatham says through its flexible, multi-dimensional virtualisation software, instant virtual system (IVS), service providers can create 255 virtual SSL VPN gateways on a single Secure Access 6000 SP appliance, each representing a customer.

According to him, the advantage of Secure Access IVS software is that it provides a complete customer separation and traffic segregation. “This enables service providers to set granular network, security (end point, authentication, authorisation and auditing) and management policies tailored for individual customers.”

While service providers own the management of the SSL VPN equipment, they can delegate portal administration, customer- specific log and usage monitoring, end-user access privileges and end-point policy configurations to each customer.

Traditionally, service providers offer individual appliances to all of their customers, which generate extra costs and operational complexity. The advantage now is that they can cluster multiple Secure Access 6000 SP appliances to offer highly available and scalable network-based managed SSL VPN services to multiple customers, Vijay says.

While service providers leverage the Secure Access 6000 SP for SSL VPN services, their customers’ authorised users gain secure access to network resources from any standard Web browser and Internet connection, including PCs, laptops and mobile devices.

Vijay says by deploying the Secure Access 6000 SP, end users are no longer constrained to use specific devices or work from designated locations, and unlike traditional IPSec VPNs, customers do not need a client to achieve remote access.

In addition, the Secure Access 6000 SP with its highly granular and detailed logging/auditing capabilities enables service providers to help their customers address compliance with government regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002 and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

The Secure Access 6000 SP with virtualisation capabilities, rich access management, high availability and clustering functionality allows service providers to not only offer secure and assured access capabilities to their customers, but also enables them to tap into new revenue opportunities.

At present, NTT Communications, NTTME, NTTeast, Dacom, Citylink and several international clients are using the Secure Access 6000 SP.

“In Malaysia, we are already in talking terms with the country’s largest telecommunications operator, and we are at the productising stage and looking at how to market the service to customers,” Vijay says.

He estimates that by end of next year, 80 per cent of enterprises in Malaysia will start to adopt the secure SSL VPN managed service.

“As we see the change in the nature of business and increasing numbers of field workers in workplaces, the need for remote access will increase, and this is one of the reasons we see SSL VPN’s good growth in the future,” he says.

According to Frost & Sullivan, Juniper Networks led the Asia- Pacific SSL VPN market with 35 per cent share in the first quarter of this year, up from an average share of 30 per cent last year.