Ixia Launches Security Testing for NAC
Ixia (Nasdaq:XXIA), a leading, global provider of IP performance test systems, today announced new capabilities for thorough testing for all forms of authentication on switches and routers including Layer 2 and Layer 3 testing of Cisco network admission control (NAC). In an Infonetics Research study User Plans for Security Products and Services: North America 2006, Cisco tops the list of vendors respondents think about when it comes to NAC.
The distributed nature of today’s enterprises is changing network security requirements. With anywhere connectivity on the horizon, companies must open their sensitive data to users with many different profiles that require various levels of network privileges. Many large enterprises are struggling with maintaining multiple directory stores, so managing user access has become a challenge. Increasingly, they are turning NAC, a set of technologies and solutions that uses the network infrastructure to enforce security policy compliance on all devices seeking to access network computing resources, to limit damage from emerging security threats.
With the roll out of IxNetwork 5.30, network equipment manufactures and enterprises can comprehensively test network switch authentication functions and network elements to perform the necessary authentication required for NAC. Using IxNetwork, a comprehensive test of NAC can be applied across all access methods to ensure, prior to deployment, that network access is granted only to compliant and trusted endpoint devices endpoints (e.g. PCs, PDAs, and laptops) and that non-compliant and rogue endpoints will not impact the network. For example, as many security breaches happen when laptops enter the enterprise, IxNetwork 5.30 can test whether the switching fabric is verifying the state of users’ operating system, anti-virus and other software in accordance with NAC parameters.
“NAC is a crucial security element of an anywhere network. But there are many moving parts and it’s crucial to thoroughly test a NAC framework’s efficacy prior to deployment,” said Andrew Jaquith, Program Manager, Enterprise Security at Yankee Group. “Thorough pre-deployment testing identifies unforeseen security vulnerabilities that administrators can address before it results in unauthorized access to sensitive systems and data.”
Ixia’s IxNetwork 5.30 enables comprehensive testing of network switch authentication functions as well as scalability to the required limits. For example, a single Optixia chassis can be scaled to emulate tens of thousands of users. An extensive set of control and supplicant parameters can be specified to test the authenticator at varying conditions.
“Enterprises and service providers are turning to NAC to meet the ever increasing threat and impact of worms, viruses and other forms of malware to networked businesses,” said Victor Alston, senior vice president of Product Development at Ixia. “However, NAC places greater demands on the network than traditional anti-virus approaches. IxNetwork 5.30 enables comprehensive testing of NAC and other avenues of identity authentication to ensure that businesses stay up and running and productivity is running at peak highs.”
IxNetwork 5.30 utilizes Ixia’s Ethernet Load Modules to emulate supplicants and perform data plane traffic generation and analysis. It provides data plane performance metrics, including throughput and latency. Its easy-to-use graphical testing environment enables quick configuration and analysis of test results.
For more information, see: http://www.ixiacom.com/products/IxNetwork 5.30/
About Ixia
Ixia is a leading provider of performance test systems for IP-based infrastructure and services. Ixia’s test systems are used by Network and Telephony Equipment Manufacturers, Semiconductor Manufacturers, Service Providers, Governments, and Enterprises to validate the functionality and reliability of complex IP networks, devices, and applications. Ixia’s Triple Play test systems address the growing need to test voice, video, and data services and network capability under real-world conditions.
For more information, contact Ixia at 26601 W. Agoura Road, Calabasas, CA 91302; (818) 871-1800, Fax: (818) 871-1805; Email: info@ixiacom.com or visit our Web Site at http://www.ixiacom.com.
IxNetwork, Ixia and the Ixia four petal logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Ixia. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
This material is for informational purposes only and subject to change without notice. It describes Ixia’s present plans to develop and make available to its customers certain products, features and functionality. Ixia is only obligated to provide those deliverables specifically included in a written agreement between Ixia and the customer.