Nokia Strengthens Remote Device Security and Application Support In latest SSL VPN Offering

TOKYO and NEW YORK, November 8, 2004 - Nokia (NYSE:NOK) today announced the expanded security and access capabilities of Nokia Secure Access System (Nokia SAS), the company's virtual private network (VPN) solution leveraging ubiquitous Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology. Nokia's latest SSL VPN solution gives enterprise users the access they need, while providing IT administrators stringent security controls.  In the past, the balance of access and security was viewed as a trade-off for one group or the other, but the latest SSL VPN offering benefits both end users and IT administrators.  Nokia's SSL VPN offering provides virtually anytime, anywhere secure remote access to email, personal information management (PIM) data, corporate intranets and applications from public Internet kiosks, terminal, laptop or wireless device.

 

Nokia Secure Access System 3.0 offers Network Extension functionality with a new feature named Secure Connector. Secure Connector provides network-level access from the user's remote device back to the corporate IT infrastructure. With network-level access from the remote device, the user has comprehensive access to business applications and data, as well as access to network services.

 

"Nokia is meeting the demands of the mobile workforce in our latest SSL VPN offering by giving IT managers and mobile workers the security, flexibility and transparency needed to access to sensitive corporate data," said Elie Habib, senior vice president, Security and Mobile Connectivity, Nokia Enterprise Solutions.  "The addition of our Network Extension feature, Secure Connector, combined with Nokia SAS's performance, reliability, and manageability make it an easy and effective way for companies to leverage the benefits of secure mobility to operate and grow their business."

 

Secure Connector features enhanced application support, real-time anti-virus monitoring, and split-tunneling control, enabling IT administrators to extend the network while minimizing risk from malware that propagates over the network.  Secure Connector also includes encrypted data storage/vault capabilities, a feature well suited for tightly regulated industries where the demand for security is high.  The Secure Connector client is downloadable from the Nokia SSL VPN gateway and installed by the user on the remote device the first time the device is used.  Once installed, the IT administrator can manage all client configurations and updates from the Nokia SSL VPN gateway.

 

"We chose Nokia's SSL VPN product after a comprehensive evaluation of other products in the marketplace. We focused on a product that offered strong features, reliability, support capabilities, and a strong brand name. Nokia earned top marks for all our requirements," said Mr. Akira Tochigi, general manager, sales and marketing of strategy, JENS Corporation, a Japanese value-added Internet service provider. "In our evaluation, we found that Nokia was the pioneering company that offered the market-leading security features and product reliability we need. We are pleased that Nokia's SSL VPN product will provide us with the superior service our customers require."

 

Secure Connector is supported on devices running Microsoft Windows NT4, 2000 and XP. Since an actual client is installed on the remote device, Secure Connector does not require a specific web browser to launch the feature.  Once logged in from the client, all applications including all supported web browsers can be utilized.

 

Secure Connector Features

 

Secure Connector supports virtually all IP-based applications. Traffic over an SSL connection is encrypted, allowing an end-user to safely utilize applications and web resources as if they are in the office.

 

Secure Connector includes a real-time Anti-Virus monitoring capability.  Using this feature, the IT administrator can require the remote device to be running a specific Anti-Virus package. If the Anti-Virus engine is turned off, shutdown, or detects a virus during an active remote session, Nokia SAS stops all traffic for the particular session and puts it in a "captive" state.   The automatic quarantine of the remote session minimizes any risk the remote session may pose to the enterprise network.

 

Secure Connector controls split tunneling. With split tunneling, all traffic to and from the remote device can be routed through the enterprise network.  With Nokia SAS, the IT administrator has the flexibility to enable or disable this capability as needed.

 

Secure Connector allocates an encrypted storage area on the remote device.  Remote users now have a secure area to store enterprise data without worrying about the security of important information from device theft and/or unauthorized user access.  The encrypted information is only accessible while connected to Nokia's SSL VPN gateway.

 

As with previous versions of Nokia Secure Access System, the new features in 3.0 are available with the purchase of Nokia Secure Access appliances without additional license fees.  Existing customers with software subscription or other support offerings can download version 3.0 at no additional cost.

 

Nokia Secure Access System 3.0 also includes the following industry leading features:

 

- Secure Workspace, a clientless feature whereby a separate work environment is created on laptops, home PCs, public kiosk terminals or other remote access devices to safeguard data created in a secure session.

 

- High Availability mode, allowing Nokia Secure Access System to be deployed and configured so that in the unlikely event of an appliance failure, a second appliance automatically takes over where the first left off with little interruption to users.

 

- Configuration Replication, which further simplifies the management of multiple gateways and high availability pairs by allowing administrators to define a managed group of gateways and automatically synchronize any changes to the configuration or user preference setting made on one gateway to all other gateways in the group.

 

- Client Integrity Scan, which performs a customizable vulnerability check on users' devices to establish the level of trust and the user's identity, and then automatically adjusts access privileges accordingly.

 

- Advanced Access Control, which dynamically adjusts access privileges based on the user's identity, the device being used, and the security of the device at time of access, enabling IT departments to roll out cost-effective remote access services based on SSL, while ensuring the corporate security policy is enforced.

 

- Session Persistence, which allows users to resume work without losing data if an SSL session times out, ensuring high end-user productivity while adhering to enterprise security policies.

 

- Global functionality, which provides simultaneous support of multiple languages from a single gateway appliance including support for most international character sets. Currently supported languages include English, Japanese, German, French, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean and Simplified and Traditional Chinese.

 

Nokia Secure Access System combines Nokia software with its purpose-built appliance hardware, secure operating system (IPSO) and systems management - complementing an existing portfolio of IP security appliances and enterprise Mobile Connectivity solutions. Nokia Secure Access System 3.0 is also supported by Nokia's world class, SCP certified "First-call Final-Resolution" global service and support team.

 

Nokia Secure Access System 3.0 is available globally as of November 2004.

 

Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations. www.nokia.com.

 

Media and analysts only please contact:

 

For Nokia:

 

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Nokia Communications
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Asia Pacific

Azwar Ghazali, Ogilvy Public Relations for Nokia Enterprise Solutions

Tel: + 852 28848563

email: azwar.ghazali@ogilvy.com