Fortinet offers VPN access via remote PCs
 
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There is a new option if you are looking for remote-access VPN gear: Fortinet.
The company, which makes a family of security appliances that range in speed from tens of megabits per second to three gigabits per second, has teamed up with SSH Communications Security to offer VPN access from remote PCs.
Based on SSH's Sentinel VPN client, the Fortinet Remote VPN Client is compatible with the FortiGate appliances. This enables businesses to use the appliances as gateways for remote access to corporate networks. The clients would be installed on remote laptops and PCs and connect via the Internet.
The value of this addition is primarily for those who buy into the idea that you want a single box to perform multiple security functions. The gear supports VPNs but also firewalls, virus scanning, content filtering and intrusion detection. It can also shape traffic, giving priorities based on application layer information it gleans from its hardware-based packet inspection.
Not everybody thinks giving all this responsibility to one device is a good idea. For instance, some businesses may have a separate security team that handles intrusions, while traffic shaping goes to the IS staff. The security staff may want a device of its own for which it is entirely responsible.
The flip side is that for those who want one box to manage, the FortiGate gear can pack a lot into one device. And customers don't have to turn on all its features if they don't want them.
To take advantage of the new Remote VPN Client, customers must be running Windows operating systems on the remote machines.
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Tim Greene is a senior editor at Network World, covering virtual private networking gear, remote access, core switching and local phone companies. You can reach him at tgreene@nww.com.
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