Novell enters NAC market via partnership

Novell is getting into network access control via an OEM agreement with StillSecure that initially provides a stand-alone product but also includes plans to ensure that software works well with Novell's ZENworks configuration management.

Called ZENworks Network Access Control, the Linux package is based on StillSecure's Safe Access, and can be downloaded from Novell's site for use on customer-provided server hardware.

Novell says it has enough demand from customers to warrant selling the NAC package before it is integrated with ZENworks or ZENworks management.

In its initial form, ZENworks NAC can scan endpoints for compliance with NAC policies, but it doesn't tap into ZENworks' Endpoint Security software, which contains knowledge about endpoint status and can update endpoints' software. Management of ZENworks NAC is browser-based and separate from ZENworks management.

Novell says the primary interest customers have in NAC is providing a way to check whether guest user machines are safe enough to let on the corporate network. They are also interested in applying NAC to VPN and remote access connections made by corporate-managed machines, Novell says.

Novell acquired its ZENworks security capabilities last year when it bought Senforce Technologies.

At the time, Novell already had a relationship with Senforce to sell its Endpoint Security Suite under the Novell name. Before being bought, Senforce had an OEM agreement with StillSecure to sell its Safe Access product as Senforce Intelligent Network Access Control.

Novell ZENworks NAC costs US$40 per managed endpoint, but the price is lower if purchased through one of Novell's licensing agreements that give discounts on total products bought by one customer.

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