Fortinet Further Enhances its Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) Network Security Solution with New Mobile Clients

Fortinet has announced key enhancements to address the numerous challenges surrounding network, data and device security posed by the Bring Your Own Device(BYOD)phenomenon wherein end users are bringing their own smartphone and tablet devices to their work environments. As part of its broad strategy to apply effective security measures for BYOD environments, Fortinet is introducing new versions of its FortiClient application for iOS and Android platforms that are downloadable from the iTunes store And on Google Play

 

The FortiClient application for Android platforms allows for both SSL tunnel mode and IPSec VPN connections to FortiGate appliances.The end user connection is fully encrypted and all traffic is sent over a secure tunnel.The updated FortiClient application for iOSdevices provides Web-mode SSL VPN functionality and has been modified for the iPad platform.

Fortinet’s comprehensive BYOD security strategy, which is designed to protect organizations by authenticating devices, controlling user behavior in the networkand restricting data access rights, is built around a combination of six key differentiating capabilities:

• A wide range of high-performance deployment options supporting LAN and WAN connectivity centered around the FortiGatefamily of appliances

• The lack of ‘per-user’or ‘per-seat’licensing means that customers can add new devices to their network without incurring additional license fees. This feature becomes critical as the number of devices attached to the network can double or even triple due to users bringing their smartphones and tablets to work

• Centralized single pane of glass management

• Integrated wireless controllers in all FortiGate appliances for improved application and user visibility and control, rogue access point detection, guest access and bandwidth management

• Built-in Wi-Fifor secure LAN deployments on certain FortiGate models reduces the need for a separatewireless access point

• Mobile VPN clients and interoperable soft-tokens for two-factor authentication

As a network-based solution, Fortinet supports a variety of approaches to smartphone and tablet security.This includes support for Mobile Device Management (MDM), Virtual Desktop and third party VPN clients.

While mobile devices have tremendous potential for enhancing productivity, the challenge for organizations today is to provide the same level of security regardless of the device or location of the user announced by Kevin Flynn, senior product managerat Fortinet. We’re helping organizations of all sizes – from SMBs to large enterprises – deploy a robust BYOD security infrastructure that uniquely combines integrated wireless functions, embedded security technologies and simple, cost-effective licensing.

Availability

The free FortiClient applications for iOS and Android platforms are available for downloadnow. IPSec functionality on the Android client is expected to be available on September 3.