iPass puts safety first for remote laptop links

Connectivity services company iPass will today unveil new tools to increase connection options for remote staff and lock down laptops used to access company networks.

With Universal Policy Enforcement (UPE), staff can only access their company's virtual private network (VPN) via the iPassConnect network client, which has mechanisms to enforce security policy, said iPass. However, staff will now be able to connect over a wide range of non-iPass networks, such as public wireless hotspots or via their own broadband connections at home.

Piero DePaoli, iPass product marketing manager, said the new system was moving towards the vision of making all connections as secure as possible. With device fingerprinting technology acquired from Safe3w last year, the iPass client ensures that staff can only connect from company laptops.

The same Device ID technology enables the new VPN lockdown feature because it uses the laptop's "fingerprint" as part of the authentication process when staff are connecting.

"It can be set up so the user can only access the VPN through iPass. Our client checks that the firewall and the antivirus software are running, and also that the system is patched up to date. The user won't be able to connect without going through all these stages," said DePaoli.

Previously, this would have prevented mobile users from connecting if a network covered by iPass Corporate Access was not available. However, version 3.35 of the iPass client now detects other wireless hotspots and helps users connect.

"Users and corporate customers like the idea of a single client that can get onto any network, whether 3G, Wi-Fi, or dial-up," DePaoli said.

The iPass Corporate Access service includes thousands of networks in over 150 countries.