Cisco oneNAC puts pressure on start-ups

Security: Network Access Control This newsletter is sponsored by Nevis Networks Webcast: Cut Through NAC Hype Over the past few years, network access control has evolved to encompass a large number of endpoint security compliance, malware detection, access control and authentication products with very different focuses. Cut through the hype and confusion to find real-world NAC answers. Network World's Security: Network Access Control Newsletter, 09/11/07 Cisco oneNAC puts pressure on start-ups By Tim Greene Nemertes Research took a look at Cisco’s plan to unite its appliance- and network-based NAC schemes and decided it was good news for customers with all-Cisco networks. Since most NAC customers initially try out an appliance, it makes sense to have the appliance, endpoint agents, management and policy engines all interoperate with Cisco’s network-based NAC. This is what Cisco is working on and may have ready in 18 months. “Enterprises that aren't committed to the Cisco approach now have another reason to consider (or reconsider) it,” the research firm says in a recent Impact Analysis e-mail newsletter. A clear migration path from appliance to network NAC gives customers flexibility and protects their investment. Network World Buyer's Guides Find the right products for your enterprise - fast. With seven categories - security, storage, convergence and VoIP, network infrastructure, network applications, wireless and LAN/WAN management - you can quickly pinpoint the hardware or software you need. With the side-by-side comparison tool you can evaluate product features and make the best purchase decisions for your enterprise. Click here to go to the Buyer's Guides now. Nemertes looks at the flip side of this and notes that start-ups competing against Cisco with their own NAC appliances and network infrastructure can beat Cisco on the head about the gap between its NAC scenarios. It also sets a timeframe for these same start-ups to improve their own products so they can compete when Cisco does get its NAC acts together. Most notable is the throughput limits of appliances and the need to deploy them near the access layer of networks, requiring large numbers of appliances for large deployments. These start-ups should work toward making their offerings as scalable as possible, Nemertes says. Nemertes takes yet a third look at the situation and says that investors might look at these start-ups as merger and acquisition targets - something that happens to start-ups as any technology matures. While Nemertes doesn’t address it, investors may also find a timeline here for their NAC start-ups to start reaping profits. If the VPN market is a valid comparison, if start-ups don’t have it together when Cisco’s NAC is tuned up, their struggle may become insurmountable.   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 Nevis Networks Webcast: Cut Through NAC Hype Over the past few years, network access control has evolved to encompass a large number of endpoint security compliance, malware detection, access control and authentication products with very different focuses. Cut through the hype and confusion to find real-world NAC answers. ARCHIVE Archive of the Security: 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