The IT Nerd

Pulse Secure, the leading provider of Secure Access solutions to both enterprises and service providers, today announced that the IAIT Lab has completed an extensive test of Pulse Connect Secure, resulting in superb findings across usability, comprehensiveness and interoperability for the market leading VPN solution.

Pulse Connect Secure provides easy, secure, authenticated access for remote and mobile users to corporate resources—anytime, anywhere. Pulse Connect Secure is the most widely deployed SSL VPN for organizations of any size, and across every major industry, to enable productivity through seamless, protected access to applications and information. The solution offers Zero Trust-based secure access through integrated user, device and security state authentication and robust connection sets that ensure compliant pre- and post-connect access to hybrid IT infrastructure.

Pulse Connect Secure includes Pulse Secure Clients and the AppConnect SDK. Pulse Clients are dynamic, multiservice network clients, which can be implemented agent or agentless, for mobile and personal computing devices. Pulse Clients can be simply deployed, enabling users to quickly “click and connect” from any device, anywhere. Pulse Secure AppConnect SDK delivers per application SSL VPN connectivity for iOS and Android clients, enabling IT departments to create an even more transparent and secure mobile app experience for their users.

The Institute for the Analysis of IT components (IAIT), an independent testing laboratory based in Germany, examined Pulse Connect Secure under real-world conditions through a series of testing scenarios. The highly detailed, nine-page report covers 16 core functions ranging from initial configuration, policy development, through enterprise onboarding, host checking functionality, FQDN split tunnelling, multi-factor authentication, as well as data center and cloud Single Sign On along with interoperability with a range of third-party applications.

The complete review is available here.

Pulse Secure, the leading provider of Secure Access solutions to both enterprises and service providers, today announced the release of Pulse Policy Secure (PPS) 9.0R3 to extend its Zero Trust Security model to IIoT devices and smart factories. The new version enables factories to streamline machinery repairs and diminish costly production downtime through IT-managed secure access. It also secures networks by expanding its behavioral analytics to IoT devices, detecting anomalies and preventing their compromise.

Pulse Policy Secure (PPS) is an integral part of Pulse Secure’s combined VPN and NAC solution that provides corporate networks with Zero Trust Security through visibility, “comply to connect” policy enforcement and security orchestration with popular network and security infrastructure. PPS dynamically profiles the network to discover, classify and apply policy to IoT devices, and includes a built-in IoT device identification library.  The solution also integrates with Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) solutions to provide identity and device security state data, as well as to fortify micro-segmentation to isolate and manage IoT devices on enterprises networks.

PPS 9.0 extends the Zero Trust Security model to IIoT devices used in smart factories and buildings, with blended IT and OT environments. It automatically discovers and profiles IIoT systems, such as factory floor SCADAs, PLCs and HMIs, or office building HVAC systems, providing dynamic visibility and securing them by enforcing policies for local and remote access by authorized users and contractors. PPS 9.0 also automatically provisions IIoT devices to next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) to facilitate remote access without provisioning overhead.

The latest release of PPS also provides sophisticated behavioral analytics that alert security teams of anomalous IoT device behavior and automatically requires added factors of authentication. PPS 9.0 builds baseline behavior profiles for managed and unmanaged IoT devices utilizing information correlated from multiple sources such as NetFlow, user and device data. With these profiles, the platform detects anomalous activity, malware infections and domain generation attacks, allowing security teams to be more responsive to threats and take preemptive measures before attacks succeed.

The new PPS 9.0 IoT support also provides practical relief for the frequent and costly issue of factory floor equipment outages. Aberdeen recently reported that 82 percent of companies reported unplanned downtime in the past three years, which can cost a company as much as $260,000 an hour.

The resulting downtime breaks production and lowers profit, because factory floor repairs often take days when security requirements mandate that service technicians physically visit the factory to diagnose and repair the problem. The latest PPS release works seamlessly with Pulse Connect Secure to solve the problem in an innovative way. The combined NAC and VPN approach enables IT teams to grant remote secure access—authenticated and encrypted—to support contractors for expedited repair and return to service of factory IIoT systems for greater uptime and productivity. IT teams ensure security with remote zero-trust access via auto-provisioned NGFWs, and by enforcing security policies that authenticate contractors based on their technician role, endpoint device status and authorization to work on the targeted IIoT device.

Availability

The latest features of Pulse Policy Secure 9.0 are available on physical or virtual Pulse Secure Appliances (PSA). Existing customers with PSA appliances under PPS subscription or software maintenance can readily upgrade at no charge. PPS on a virtual appliance with a three-year subscription starts at $31,000 MSRP for 500 concurrent connections. Pulse Connect Secure customers can cost-effectively extend their VPN investment to include network visibility, access control and mobile security with the Pulse Access Suite.

Those interested in learning more on the topic are invited to register for the January 8th, 1 p.m. EST webinar, “Zero Trust Secure Success for the Industrial Internet of Things.”

Also available is a  blog, “Pulse Secure Access for Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT),” authored by James Tolosa, senior product marketing manager at Pulse Secure.

Pulse Secure today announced that the company has been recognized as one of the leading private technology startups in the elite 2018 Red Herring Top 100 Global ranking.

Digital transformation has forced IT organizations to further empower end-user computing and deliver dynamic provisioning of always-on access to business applications and information. This trend has increased endpoint and IoT threats, compliance exposures and operational expenditures – requiring organizations to reassess their technology stack that comprises Secure Access. Pulse Secure provides an integrated suite of software-driven Secure Access solutions that allow organizations to take advantage of hybrid IT in a zero-trust world.

Pulse Secure offers a simple, comprehensive and integrated set of Secure Access solutions spanning remote virtual private network (VPN) and cloud access security; mobile device management (MDM), network visibility, IoT security and network access control (NAC); and virtual application delivery control (ADC). Available as part of its Pulse Access Suite, the award-winning solutions allows organizations to ensure user experience while offering centralized management, real-time visibility and adaptive protection to mitigate data center virtualization and cloud computing access risks.

Enterprise Management Associates (EMA) recently distinguished Pulse Secure as a “Top Three” Secure Access vendor and the only vendor, among more than 60 assessed, to achieve the highest ratings across Hybrid IT categories. Frost & Sullivan also recently recognized Pulse Secure as being among the top four major NAC leaders in the SMB to Large Enterprise Segment by market share.

Red Herring’s Top 100 Global list has become a mark of distinction for identifying promising companies and entrepreneurs. Red Herring editors were among the first to recognize that companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, Yahoo, Skype, Salesforce.com, YouTube and eBay would change the way we live and work.

Red Herring’s editorial staff evaluated the companies on both quantitative and qualitative criteria, such as financial performance, technology innovation, management quality, strategy and market penetration. This assessment of potential is complemented by a review of the track records and standing of startups relative to their peers, allowing Red Herring to see past the “buzz” and make the list a valuable instrument of discovery and advocacy for the most promising new business models from around the world.

For more information, visit Pulse Secure online or download information on the award-winning Pulse Access Suite.

Pulse Secure today announced the launch of new packaging of its award-winning Pulse Access Suite for Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs). The solution offers service providers an accelerated, cost-effective means to differentiate and build out their service portfolio to meet the massive demand for protected connectivity to cloud applications and hybrid IT resources.

Pulse Secure offers a comprehensive, integrated and highly interoperable set of Secure Access solutions spanning remote, mobile and cloud access security; network visibility and access control; and application delivery. The suite allows service providers to extend lucrative access protection, endpoint compliance, threat response and availability services for the data center, hosted in the cloud or running as SaaS.

The service provider packaging optimizes capital expenditure through an on-demand, pay-per-use model. MSSPs can spin up or spin down virtual Secure Access instances and licenses at a cost based on the number of concurrent monthly users. On-demand provisioning and tiered, user-based pricing gives service providers needed flexibility for customer onboarding, growth spurts and business downturns.

According to a recent Gartner report, the Managed Security Services (MSS) market “constitutes approximately 60 percent of the overall security outsourcing market that will generate $18.7 billion revenue in 2017, growing at a CAGR of 11 percent through 2021. It is important to view MSS in the context of broader security outsourcing, because large enterprises are increasingly looking for hybrid engagements that include a mix of shared and dedicated service delivery components.” Key market trends in that report include:

• Moving beyond monitoring of only network-based security technologies, particularly the network perimeter, with increasing focus on the endpoint (e.g., managed EDR services)
• Increasing movement toward more customized outcomes for buyers
• Buyer demand for capabilities to monitor popular SaaS applications, and public cloud service providers and IaaS

As enterprises are seeking more complete offerings from fewer managed security service providers, MSSPs in turn are seeking to expand service scope while reducing business risk and operational complexity. In comparison to working with point solutions that are limited due to custom integration, disparate management and licensing constraints, Pulse Secure uniquely offers MSSPs integrated Virtual Private Network (VPN), Enterprise Mobile Management (EMM), Network Access Control (NAC) and virtual Application Delivery Controller (ADC) solutions within a unified management framework for data center and hybrid IT implementation.

Availability

MSSP packaging including user-based licensing will be available to authorized channel partners at the end of November through Pulse Secure’s global distributors. The Pulse Secure Access Suite for MSSPs’ list price starts at $6 USD MSRP per concurrent user per month for the first 500 users with higher discounts available for larger user counts. The solution includes a multi-tenant, centralized management system and licensing server that gives MSSPs operational oversight while also providing clients with dashboard visibility. The solution includes virtual appliance form factors for VMware, KVM and Hyper-V, and supports deployment in hosted cloud environments such as Microsoft Azure and Amazon AWS.

Pulse Secure today announced that analyst firm Frost & Sullivan recognized Pulse Secure among the top four major NAC leaders in the SMB to Large Enterprise segment by market share and among the top three NAC vendors showing the most significant market share gains.

The recent Frost & Sullivan “2018 Network Access Control (NAC) Market, Global, Forecast to 2022” report states that network visibility is critical. Every device on a network is a potential attack or reconnaissance point that must be discovered and secured, and the increasing level of malware and cyberattacks are driving NAC investments. NAC vendors have been able to add value to licenses by offering added endpoint posture assessment and remediation services, and integration modules. NAC vendors are delivering improved features and functions for visibility, mobility, BYOD, IoT and automated threat response. The result is sustained growth for the NAC market where revenues are expected to grow from 2017 – 2022 at a 16.9 percent CAGR, reaching $2.1B in 2022.

The published report provides an overview of the market including NAC capabilities, technology, drivers, adoption trends and competitive insights.

Pulse Secure offers a portfolio of software-driven Secure Access solutions that satisfy usability, contextual intelligence and policy orchestration to support data center and hybrid IT environments. Sold separately or as part of a Secure Access Suite, Pulse Policy Secure delivers a full-featured NAC solution that is easy to deploy, manage and scale. Highlights of Pulse Secure’s NAC solution within the report include:

• Markets. BYOD, IoT, interoperability and enforcement drive sales in all geographic regions, with financial services, government, healthcare and manufacturing/high tech among Pulse Secure’s key markets.
• Product. Pulse Secure NAC provides 360-degree visibility with enforcement to see, monitor and control managed, unknown and IoT devices connecting locally or remotely to the network.
• Value. Customers can start with Pulse Profiler to discover, assess and inventory network devices. With full network visibility, customers can then use Pulse Policy Secure NAC to invoke access, enforcement and threat response policies, orchestrated via API, Syslog, SNMP and IF-MAP protocols.
• Value. Pulse Secure’s highly scalable architecture is ideal for large enterprises and MSSPs. Each high-performance appliance can control up to 50,000 users. The solution also includes an embedded, enterprise-class RADIUS server.

The report also cross-references solution attributes compared to other NAC market leaders such as Cisco, ForeScout and HP/Aruba. According to the report findings, “Unlike pure-play NAC offerings, Pulse Secure’s solution can include both VPN and NAC which enables unified visibility, consistent endpoint compliance policy and access control for data center and Hybrid IT. Customers gain a stronger security posture, expedited deployment and lower TCO by leveraging a common client, policy and management framework. Unlike infrastructure NAC, Pulse Secure works with popular switches, wireless, NGFW, EMM, SIEMs and endpoint security for automated threat response. This proven, interoperable architecture simplifies deployment, administration and orchestration.”

For additional insight and to learn more about Pulse Secure’s NAC offering, download a custom version of the “Frost and Sullivan 2018 Network Access Control (NAC) Market, Global, Forecast to 2022” report.

Pulse Secure has announced that Healthwise has successfully deployed Pulse Secure virtual Application Delivery Controller (vADC), to improve the performance and reliability of its web applications within Microsoft’s Azure cloud.

Healthwise, a provider of health content and patient education, selected Pulse Secure vADC to deliver application-aware optimization for its virtualized development and application environments that are rapidly moving to the cloud as part of a hybrid IT strategy.

Healthwise is a non-profit organization with a mission to help people make better health decisions. People have turned to Healthwise information more than 2 billion times to learn how to do more for themselves, ask for the care they need, and say “no” to the care they don’t need. Healthwise partners with hospitals, electronic medical record (EMR) providers, health plans, care management companies, and health websites to provide up-to-date, evidence-based information to the people they serve.

Information technology plays a critical role in delivering on the Healthwise mission. Healthwise develops and maintains approximately 50 custom applications which have been recently migrated to the Microsoft Azure cloud environment to leverage platform-as-a-service benefits that improve operational efficiency and drive down costs.

Healthwise has deployed several virtualized application clusters on Microsoft Azure with each instance controlled by a Pulse Secure vADC appliance which provides load balancing, and SSL/TLS offload with HTTP optimization to improve application performance.

There are three examples that highlight the value of this deployment; the first is when his team built its own real-time monitoring tool using the APIs that allowed it to integrate with their existing monitoring and alerting platform to display high level network and applications metrics in a single view that would traditionally have required manually gathering reports from multiple systems.

In another example, the scripting helped Healthwise to manage the upgrade process from the unsecure TLS 1.0 to the newer TLS 1.2 standard for partners that connect to its applications.

The third example is the use of scripts to secure applications in the event of a newly discovered vulnerability.

With more of its development workloads and applications moving onto Azure, Healthwise believes its choice of Pulse Secure vADC has proven a beneficial investment,

A full case study of the Pulse Secure deployment at Healthwise is available here.

Pulse Secure, the leading provider of Secure Access solutions to both enterprises and service providers, today announced that Ricoh Group has successfully deployed Pulse Access Suite Enterprise Edition to enhance secure access for always-on network connectivity protecting approximately 97,000 employees worldwide.

Ricoh Group is a global provider of technology that transforms business processes and information management to help organizations be more agile, productive and profitable. Ricoh is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan with operations in over 200 countries.

Following a series of WannaCry cyber-attacks in 2017 against high-profile companies that led to the disclosure of personal information, senior executives began a strategic project across the Group to implement additional security measures to further strengthen network controls.

To provide safe network connectivity for employees, the security operations division reviewed its infrastructure to look at ways it could strengthen its overall security posture.

Ricoh has deployed Pulse Access Suite Enterprise Edition at data centers in Tokyo and Osaka along with Pulse Secure license servers to aid flexible deployment of security resources. Pulse Access Suite includes Pulse Policy Secure to deliver Network Access Control (NAC) with granular policy enforcement and integrated management capabilities.

The new Pulse Secure VPN and Network Access Control (NAC) solution allows Ricoh to maintain 5,000 simultaneous connections per location to support secure access for 10,000 sales employees and around 4,000 support engineers spread across multiple times zones. The solution includes local host device validation to ensure connecting devices have required OS patches and active anti-malware protection. Through the simplicity and reliability of the Pulse Secure solution, Ricoh has also moved its previously outsourced VPN management and maintenance functions back in-house leading to a 60 percent reduction in its secure network access budget.

The use of Pulse Cloud Secure with its secure access and single sign-on to cloud apps and services has also helped Ricoh deliver on its “Work Reform” program and group-wide migration to Microsoft Office 365. With Pulse Secure, Ricoh has created a secure environment in which employees can access IT resources from anywhere using a wider variety of devices.

A full case study of the Pulse Secure deployment at Ricoh Group is available here.