Cisco Network Access Control Appliance Enforces Policy at Vulnerable End Points

The Cisco Network Access Control (NAC) appliance, together with Clean Access Server, Clean Access Manager and Clean Access Agent Software, provides a cost effective means of simplifying policy creation and maintenance so that vulnerable enpoints in the network are isolated and remediated before they can harm resources on the network.

With NAC, you can:

• Identify Users on the network
• Determine if Endpoints are vulnerable and non compliant with security policy
• Quarantine and remediate non compliant end points with updates from the Clean Access Server
• Create/Maintain policy across the network with Clean Access Manager. Preconfigured checks from over 50 vendors provide critical Windows updates, Anti Virus updates, Anti Spam Updates and other 3rd party checks

Invest 5 minutes of your time right now to watch a short video. You'll need Windows Media Player or Quick Time to watch it.

For details, go to www.cisco.com/go/nac or call John Mason at Ashlin, 416-256-3096 Ext. 1002

Top 10 Reasons to upgrade to Exchange 2007

Top 10 lists are always fun, so here is Microsoft's - a bit shortened, or you can see the long version.

1. Reduce costs with new data replication capabilities
2. Access everything from virtually anywhere - including from a telephone
3. Enterprise Class Mobile Messaging, calendaring and more - greatly improved
4. Unified messaging saves you money, and employees time
5. Comprehensive protection from spam, viruses, and phishing attacks - you even get hosted filtering and security included in the enterprise CAL license
6. COMPLIANCE
7. Web Access is finally ready for real life use
8. Reduce Adminstration with new tools (more efficient)
9. Deploying and Managing are easier and roles are modular
10. Native 64 bit application results in major improvements in performance and resource utilization

ESET Antivirus Software Offers Support for Microsoft Vista and Enhanced Rootkit Protection

ESET, the leader in proactive threat protection, released its upgrade to ESET NOD32 Antivirus software, version 2.7, with support for Microsoft Windows Vista. The enhanced software is one of the few malware solutions on the market today that is fully compatible with x64 versions of Vista, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. In addition, the upgrade to ESET NOD32 also features enhanced anti-stealth technology that offers more comprehensive protection against rootkits through its ability to see the true state of running processes and the file system. Rootkits enable hackers to maintain control of a compromised system by hiding their presence.

ESET’s rootkit protection is integrated into the ThreatSense® engine. Competitors typically offer this kind of solution as a stand-alone tool or as part of a larger suite. ESET NOD32 makes it easy for users to be protected with minimal system impact.

“As online threats complete the shift from glory-seekers wreaking havoc to today's professional criminals seeking profit, it is more important than ever to have strong defenses in place,” said Jonathan Singer, host based and consumer security analyst at Yankee Group. “Anti-malware products like ESET’s NOD32, which include protection against viruses, spyware and rootkits, provide a good security foundation for businesses and consumers alike.”

“Given that rootkits make it more difficult to detect intrusions in a system, they are one of the greatest threats today,” said Randy Abrams, director of technical education at ESET, LLC. “ESET NOD32 version 2.7 protects users by offering improved rootkit detection and protection by proactively and transparently defeating active rootkits.”

I have been using NOD32 for two years and find it to be the most comprehensive anti-malware (anti-virus, anti-adware, anti-spyware) product on the market. Its heuristic mechanism is so powerful, that some users who have not renewed the subscriptions still have had full protection.

What’s New in NOD32, version 2.7:

• Support for 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Microsoft’s Windows Vista operating system.
• Improved rootkit protection and detection that proactively and transparently defeats active rootkits, which are typically hidden from the user.
• Expanded categorization of malware includes potentially unwanted applications such as adware that may not be malicious, and the renaming of potentially unsafe applications like keyloggers, remote administrators, etc. These categories are capable of being turned off or on.

Add any serial device to your Network

External device servers from Lantronix can network-enable just about any device with serial connectivity in a matter of minutes.

They provide the ability to remotely control, monitor, diagnose and troubleshoot your equipment over a network or the Internet. And they enable you to preserve your investment in your present equipment.

You can choose Ethernet or wireless, advanced encryption for maximum security, and device servers designed for commercial or heavy-duty industrial applications.

TruPort incorporates the RFC2217 COM port control protocol to produce a true end-to-end communications solution with full control of remote serial ports.With it, applications can see and change:

• the baud rate
• character size
• stop bit
• parity
• line control communication properties

It also includes remote buffer monitoring and control which is critical for sensitive applications requiring special data handling.

MobiKey: Secure Access from Anywhere

MobiKEY is an ultra-portable, smart-card enabled computing device that securely connects users to their desktop and network resources from any Internet-enabled Windows-based PC.

MobiKEY looks like a USB memory key, but is a read-only device. When you plug it into any computer with a high speed internet connection, MobiKEY gives you instant access to up to 5 different computers anywhere in the world, which has the MobiKEY access software installed. The connection is a VPN using a security certificate. This is a plug and play VPN connection to your desktop computer or office server.

We like this solution because its ultra-secure, very portable, and simple to use and setup. This is a VPN solution for the casual user.

Hard Disk Backup device from Exabyte

RDX QuikStor is a disk-based storage system with removable cartridges that offers rugged, reliable and convenient backup. It combines the benefits of tape—reliability, portability, archive life, and low cost—with the performance, speed, random access, and ease of use of hard disk technology, all at a competitive price, starting at just $335.

It's ideal for designers or publications needing quick access to specific projects, government agencies with sensitive data on workstations, and medical offices, law offices or other small facilities with limited data sets and no IT staff.

The device is an industry standard form factor (3.5" or 5.25") with a fast transfer rate of 30-35 MB/sec. (SATA 2.0) and 25 MB/sec. (USB 2.0) with the flexibility of 40, 80, and 120 GB native cartridge capacities. The backward and forward compatibility allows users to upgrade to higher capacity cartridges. The rugged shockproof design of the drive cartridge means it is protected even under the most extreme conditions. RDX QuikStor ships with Symantec Backup Exec QS backup software and is compatible with all the leading backup applications. Its well-defined product roadmap and a three-year warranty provide maximum investment protection.

Other Exabyte News:

• Fall into Free Stuff on Purchases between October 1, and Dec 31 2006
• Magnum 448 LTO 2/3 Tape Library offers up to 38.4TB in a 4U form factor. Take the tour and you could win an Ipod Nano.

Power on or off a computer from anywhere

The Imcom Internet Power Stone (IPS) provides various methods of initiating an AC power reset to meet any requirement for complete in and out-of-band network control.

1. By Telephone: The basic reboot function involves an incoming POTS line and a connected AC device. An incoming call will trigger an auto reboot, based on user-defined number of rings.
   



2. By Heartbeat: The IPS can work with heartbeat software that will automatically reboot a computer when a problem occurs.
   



3. By Web-browser: The IPS can be controlled by a master control unit that is IP addressable accessible via the internet. Password protection and power status feedback are available.

If you Collaborate you need to Groove

Microsoft has greatly enhanced their collaboration solutions with the acquisition of Groove. Now there is a tool for real-time long-distance ad-hoc collaboration. Its fast, its secure, and you can productively collaborate on almost any kind of project. Once you have finished Grooving and you have created a masterpiece, you can save it right into SharePoint for long term collarborative use.

You can try out Groove for free, so why not give it a whirl.

VMWare Enables Server Consolidation and Cost Containment

Many organizations today are finding that server virtualization is an important tool in reducing current hardware costs and containing future hardware costs.

The common practice of dedicating a single server to each x86 application and sizing it for peak loads has led to severe underutilization of server assets in most data centers. Servers typically run at 5-15% CPU utilization, but business process and technology limitations make it difficult to improve on those figures.

VMWare is the market leading software solution which enables companies to realize reduced hardware costs and efficiencies through server virtualization. VMWare is in use by 99 out of the top Fortune 100 companies. VMWare makes it possible to create a server as a virtual hardware-independent `machine` which can share a physical server with other virtual machines. This has several important benefits:

• Dramatic reduction in server costs. Customers report savings of anywhere between 30% and 70%
• Significantly improved managability. Fewer servers to manage mean less complexity
• Boost in Server Utilization. Instead of 5% to 15%, 80% utilization is now possible.
• Increased IT Efficiency. Common administrative tasks, such as hardware provisioning, are simplified.
• Greater responsiveness and Ability to Respond to Future Growth. Because servers are now virtual, it`s easier to respond to requests for new servers, to monitor growth and to plan capaicity increments more effectively.

Companies are discovering that they can achieve consolidation ratios ranging from a modest 4:1 all the way to 30:1 (e.g Qualcomm). In Canada, Société de Transport de Montréal achieved a consolidation ratio of 15:1, as documented in an August 2006 article in Computing Canada. This is just one of many companies which have realized success. Visit the VMWare site to browse Success Stories in Server Consolidation.

VMWare is not just for large enterprises. If you have as few as 5 to 10 servers, you can realize benefits.

Download VMWare`s Server Consolidation brief from their web site for more information.

For more information on VMWare, contact John Mason, VMWare Sales Professional, at 416-256-3096 ext 1002.

Symantec Backup Exec Version 11d Offers Major Enhancements

Version 11.d of Symantec Backup Exec offers Granular Recovery Technology for Exchange, Sharepoint and the Active Directory, thereby eliminating the need for lengthy duplicate backups.

For example, instead of taking a full Database Backup and a full Mailbox backup plus incremental backups on each with Exchange, you can simply take a Full Data Base Backup and Continuous Protecion backups of the transaction logs for email. When you want to recover, you go into a GUI window and point to what you want to recover. This appears to save a lot of computer time and email administrator time.

Free security Service With WatchGuard

With WatchGuard's Unified Threat Management and security solutions, you'll have comprehensive, Zero Day protection from multiple threats in a single, easy-to-use solution. Their award-winning firewall and VPN appliances combine security, performance, and value for your growing network. And our intuitive centralized management provides powerful, granular controls for expert users, as well as indispensable ease of use for all.

From November 8 through December 31, 2006, purchase and activate a Firebox® X e-Series firewall appliance and receive a free one-year subscription to the security service of your choice! Each WatchGuard® security service is integrated with the Firebox X to provide an unbeatable combination of security capabilities – no additional hardware or software required. The free services include:

Gateway AV/IPS
spamBlocker
WebBlocker

Other Watchguard Promotions
Trade up Your Firebox® for a Faster Firewall
Available WorldwideFirebox® owners can have faster firewall/VPN and integrated intrusion prevention functionality at a great price! Receive a rebate today when you trade up a Firebox® appliance and buy a new Firebox® X Core™ or Firebox® Peak™ firewall.
Trade In Competing Appliances for Better Security Solutions
Available WorldwideUpgrade your existing firewall/VPN appliance with a new WatchGuard appliance! Now end users with a competitive firewall/VPN appliance can get an instant rebate when they purchase a new Firebox X Core or Firebox X Peak from a WatchGuard Authorized Reseller.
Save with SchoolMate™
Available WorldwideQualifying government and education institutions can earn an additional discount with WatchGuard's SchoolMate discount program!

Two Free Access Points with D-Link Wireless Switch

D-Link is a manufacturer that offers great networking products with excellent support. Their support is local and competant. This gives us the confidence to recommend their products.

Until the end of 2006 Ashlin and Dlink are offering two free DualBand 802.11a/g access points (DWL-8220AP) for free with every DWS-1008 8 port PoE (Power over Ethernet) wireless switch. No need to run power to your access point, PoE takes care of that. This is a simple Enterprise class wireless solution.

• Powered by Trapeze Networks™ Mobility System
• Provides Central Management for WLAN Infrastructure
• Automatically Configures All Attached DWL-8220APs

Kyocera Ecosys FS-C5025N - Colour printer that is not hard on the environment

Kyocera's Ecosys models offer the greenest printing solutions because consumables are not discarded into the garbage. Their toner containers recycle in the blue bin, and their other consumables are guaranteed to last a long time. In the case of this printer the consumables are guaranteed for 200,000 prints. This guarantee is unique in the market as they are not prorated. If the consumables last less than the guarantee, they are replaced free of charge by Kyocera. Lowest TCO (total cost of ownership).

This printer features

• up to 22 pages per minute in colour
• network interface standard
• Smallest footprint in its class
• up to 2100 sheets of input, optional duplex and envelope feeder
• 128mb ram expandable to 640mb
• 85,000 page duty cycle per month

List price $2,150 - Cite this blog and get a 15% discount until Nov 30th 2006 from Ashlin Computer Corporation

Defend Against Image Spam

PineApp appliances now protect against Image-based spam which has been the bain of spam filters until now. In addition PineApp has also added the availability of IP-Reputation filtering by Commtouch.