Vendor group creates an open source 802.1x client

Network Access Control This newsletter is sponsored by Juniper Networks Critical Questions to Consider for Deploying Network Access Control Before you roll out access controls, there are five critical questions you must answer if you want a successful deployment. Join networking expert and consultant Joel Snyder as he explains what you must address, plus get deployment tips and much more. Network World's Network Access Control Newsletter, 05/15/07 Vendor group creates an open source 802.1x client By Tim Greene A group of security vendors is creating an open source 802.1x client. The goal being that customers won't have to rely on clients that depend on individual vendors. The group, called Open Secure Edge Access (OpenSEA), plans to extend an existing 802.1x supplicant known as Xsupplicant. Xsupplicant will now support Windows XP; a GUI for configuration; and an API to enable further extensions. 802.1x is important to NAC because it can be used as a means to enforce NAC policies about the status of endpoints trying to access networks. The client 802.1x software responds to requests for identification, and based on its identity, is allowed access or not. Access is enforced by an 802.1x network device such as a switch. The Security Standard - The Only Executive Summit Focused on the Business, Management and Strategic Aspects of Security September 10-11, 2007 | The Fairmont Hotel Chicago How do your security initiatives support company business goals? The answer to this question can make all the difference in gaining the corporate-wide support and resources you need to drive your security strategies. Uncover best practices and organizational strategies for achieving success by attending The Security Standard Conference. Click here for more details. Click here for more details When 802.1x is used in NAC, the identity check of the device trying to gain network access includes a scan of the device’s security posture. That is the pre-admission check of operating system patches, updated virus libraries and the like. OpenSEA is important, according to the group’s founders, because the major commercially available 802.1x supplicants are owned by Cisco, Juniper and Microsoft, which makes it less likely that third-party NAC gear can enhance its functionality based on extending the supplicants. The third parties may not be able to get access to the proprietary 802.1x supplicant code to do so. OpenSEA has six members, Extreme Networks, Identity Engines, Infoblox, Symantec, TippingPoint and Trapeze Networks. The group is soliciting more members. The OpenSEA 802.1x supplicant is due out this fall, but expect products based on extensions of this supplicant late this summer.   What do you think? Post a comment on this newsletter

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Contact the author: Tim Greene is a senior editor at Network World, covering network access control, virtual private networking gear, remote access, WAN acceleration and aspects of VoIP technology. You can reach him at tgreene@nww.com. This newsletter is sponsored by Juniper Networks Critical Questions to Consider for Deploying Network Access Control Before you roll out access controls, there are five critical questions you must answer if you want a successful deployment. Join networking expert and consultant Joel Snyder as he explains what you must address, plus get deployment tips and much more. ARCHIVE Archive of the Network Access Control Newsletter. BONUS FEATURE IT PRODUCT RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Get detailed information on thousands of products, conduct side-by-side comparisons and read product test and review results with Network World’s IT Buyer’s Guides. Find the best solution faster than ever with over 100 distinct categories across the security, storage, management, wireless, infrastructure and convergence markets. Click here for details. PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered to your inbox each day. Extend your knowledge with a print subscription to the Network World newsweekly, Apply here today. International subscribers, click here. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com. Please use this address when modifying your subscription. Advertising information: Write to Associate Publisher Online Susan Cardoza Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2007