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Network Management Solutions Provider MetaInfo Introduces Upgrade to Its Network Access Control Architecture

Posted on: Tuesday, 2 May 2006, 09:00 CDT

MetaInfo, a leading provider of network infrastructure management solutions, today announced SAFE DHCP Quarantine Framework, the latest version of its architecture for network access control. Formerly known as SAFE Registration Framework, SAFE DHCP Quarantine Framework is an alternative to IEEE 802.1x and other proposed standards for network access control and protection and is an extension to MetaInfo's standards-based infrastructure services that allows companies to monitor and control network access according to their unique policies.

As with 802.1x and other proposed standards, SAFE DHCP Quarantine Framework's design meets one of the growing concerns to organizations: the need for enhanced network access control to prevent unauthorized users or unhealthy systems from gaining access to network resources. In a recent survey by industry research firm IDC, corporate IT managers ranked access by unauthorized users as their number one security concern regarding workstations and laptops within the network, followed by anti-virus protection and policy enforcement. At present, most networks allow users full access to network resources while authenticating and verifying the health of the machines. It is in those few moments that infected machines can release malicious code throughout the network, with devastating results.

With SAFE DHCP Quarantine Framework, IT managers are able to quarantine all systems attempting to access the network until authentication and verification. By isolating computers before they have access to network resources, organizations can reduce or eliminate this security risk. At the same time, SAFE DHCP Quarantine Framework enables scanning, policy enforcement, and authentication vendors to integrate their products with little or no modification, and provides a platform by which organizations can protect network access. Unlike 802.1x and other proposed standards, SAFE DHCP Quarantine Framework is cross-platform, does not require costly hardware upgrades, and is available now.

SAFE DHCP Quarantine Framework uses current, industry-standard infrastructure resources on which MetaInfo and other security product vendors can integrate their solutions. Using MetaInfo's standards-based SAFE DHCP, SAFE DHCP Quarantine Framework provides new capabilities in scanning, security, and policy enforcement products to interact at the network endpoint, before users have access to full network resources. With the SAFE DHCP Quarantine Framework, vendor solutions can interact with the host computer as if it were "live" on the network, but in reality, isolated from network resources.

Additionally, MetaInfo's SAFE Network Alliance supports third-party vendors wishing to integrate their solutions with SAFE DHCP Quarantine Framework. Initial members include, Check Point Software Technologies, Qualys, RSA Security, and StillSecure.

About MetaInfo

For more than 10 years, MetaInfo has been providing a secure IP foundation for network infrastructures. Its flagship product, Meta IP, provides unified network access management and endpoint access protection in a single product. Meta IP is used by enterprises in a variety of industries, including healthcare, finance, and government. The company's U.S. headquarters are in the historic Pioneer Square district of Seattle, Washington. For further information, please contact MetaInfo by phone at 206-674-3700, or visit the company's web site at www.metainfo.com.

Source: Business Wire

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