News
Issue #2002 - 38 (October 2002)
(Updated Oct. 8, 2002)

INFRASTRUCTURE, PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Bluesocket & Columbitech Announce Enhancements in WLAN Security with Successful Deployments

WLAN authentication/security leader's solutions now deployed in more than 50 educational institutions worldwide.

ATLANTA -- Oct 1, 2002 -- At Booth 1242 at EDUCAUSE 2002, the premier information technology gathering for higher education, Bluesocket, Inc., a fast-growing developer of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) solutions is showcasing how its products are being used by education IT departments to securely connect and manage wireless devices to networks and the Internet. 

Bluesocket's Wireless Gateways, recognized as the "Best Security Product of 2002" by the Networking Industry Awards are single component network appliances to secure and manage wireless networks and provide user authentication, bandwidth and administrative management for a wide range of educational enterprises: from liberal arts colleges to major public universities; as well as school districts, private secondary schools, law and medical schools, and research laboratories.

Bluesocket technology addresses several critical issues facing IT professionals today: security management, administrative systems, maintaining network infrastructure and managing emerging network technologies.

A sample of educational institutions that have deployed Bluesocket Wireless Gateways include:

• University of Arizona 
• University of Cambridge (UK) 
• California State University 
• Harvard University 
• Merchant Marine Academy 
• New York Institute of Technology 
• University of Pittsburgh 
• Washington University (St. Louis) 

For a list of other, previously announced universities using Bluesocket on their campuses, go to http://www.bluesocket.com/news/wirelessAccess.html

Bluesocket Wireless Gateways
Bluesocket's product line of Wireless Gateways offer scalable, single component solutions for administration, management, class of service (CoS) and security of wireless networks for educational institutions, enterprises, government offices and service providers. Configured via a Web browser, the Wireless Gateway sits between an enterprise's access points (wireless base stations) and the rest of the network, acting as a gateway between wireless and wired components.

COLUMBITECH WIRELESS VPN 1.4 ADDS NEW SECURITY AND PLATFORM SUPPORT

New version includes AES encryption, support for DOS clients, and PKI support for Pocket PC 2002

STOCKHOLM-October 1, 2002-Wireless security software developer Columbitech adds new security features and platform support to its latest version of Columbitech Wireless VPN. The product eliminates
security gaps and user frustrations associated with accessing corporate data by delivering strong security, enhanced performance, convenient always-on connectivity and secure, seamless network roaming. 

Columbitech Wireless VPN Version 1.4 supports Window 2000 and NT 4.0 servers, and offers clients for Windows 2000/XP, Pocket PC 2002 and DOS. The new support for Windows NT servers and DOS clients is a result of Columbitech's partnership with Symbol Technologies. The added platform support will open up new markets that have not been explored before, in retailing and other industries where legacy DOS devices are used. The DOS-client is exclusively sold as an integrated part of Symbol's product AirBEAM(r) Safe.

Highlighting the security features for the new version will include support for the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), which is the state-of-the-art encryption technology selected by the U.S. National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The AES standard will replace the Triple Data Encryption Standard (3DES) standard currently used for high-security applications. Another security feature is a PKI
client for the Pocket PC 2002 platform. The client will help system administrators to securely distribute certificates to a large number of Pocket PC clients.

The new version of Columbitech Wireless VPN is also OPSEC certified by Check Point Software Technologies. In addition, a number of administrative features have been added such as enhanced event log messaging, advanced profiles, and reconfiguration without restart. All new features will further strengthen the Columbitech platform for wireless access to mission critical data. 

Columbitech Wireless VPN supports several major wireless network standards such as wireless WLAN (802.11b), CDPD, and 3G, giving customers the ability to add on new wireless options without having to reinvest in new infrastructure for each new network. Columbitech's solution is based on the standard Wireless Transport Layer Security (WTLS) that is optimized for wireless rather than wireline use.

Columbitech Wireless VPN 1.4 will be generally available in November, 2002. 

For more information: www.bluesocket.com and http://www.columbitech.com

MobileInfo Comments and Advisory:  Security continues to be a major issue in wireless. These solutions from Bluesocket and Columbitech should help but security professionals should carefully evaluate these and other products to ensure that they meet the criteria the organization has for securing networks and fit well in the enterprise security infrastructure. 

Note: This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Readers should take appropriate caution in developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology architectures.  All trademarks used in this summary are the property of their respective owners.