New Altiris Solutions Extend Network Admission Control (NAC) for Enhanced Network-Based Device Security

ORLANDO, Fla., Gartner Symposium/ITxpo, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Altiris, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATRS), a pioneer of IT lifecycle management solutions that reduce the total cost of owning IT resources, today announced new software solutions to extend and enhance the Network Admission Control (NAC) framework. In support of NAC, the new Altiris(R) Quarantine Solution(TM) delivers a single management interface for heterogeneous network management while an enhanced version of Altiris SecurityExpressions(TM) now provides system security policy audits for managed and unmanaged devices.

Altiris solutions, combined with the NAC framework, use network infrastructure to enforce security policy compliance on all devices seeking to access network computing resources, thereby limiting damage from viruses and worms. The new Quarantine Solution and updated features of SecurityExpressions deliver on the Altiris initiative to provide heterogeneous system security posture assessment and remediation. Altiris also provides network enforcement capabilities and system provisioning to keep computing and network resources healthy and running at optimal levels.

Cisco NAC is a set of technologies and solutions built on an industry initiative led by Cisco Systems. Cisco NAC uses network infrastructure to enforce security policy compliance on all devices seeking to access network computing resources, thus limiting damage from emerging security threats. NAC is part of the Cisco Self-Defending Network security strategy which helps increase network intelligence that enables the network to automatically identify, prevent, and adapt to security threats.

According to Gartner, "Because of worms and other threats, you can no longer leave your networks open to unscreened devices and users. To maintain the availability and integrity of the IT infrastructure in the face of a rapidly changing threat environment, you must implement a network access control process."*

Companies implementing the NAC infrastructure realize that not all systems will be managed by NAC but will still require security enforcement. These systems may include those used by contractors, guests, as well as out-of-date employee machines. Mobile workers and distributed offices without the luxury of local IT resources also present challenges to an all-inclusive security strategy. Altiris Quarantine Solution addresses both managed and unmanaged systems by providing a common interface for creating quarantine policies and supporting communication between Altiris solutions and the NAC framework. Altiris Quarantine Solution includes: - Health status communications with Cisco management framework

- Vulnerability assessment and remediation integration with NAC

- Cisco Trust Agent distribution and management

- NAC exception management for non-supported IP devices such as network

printers, Linux, UNIX and Macintosh assets

- Comprehensive management features including pre-defined alerts and Web

reports for tracking and improving NAC performance Altiris SecurityExpressions now offers Audit On Connect(TM) to assess the network readiness for NAC, pinpointing potential problem areas and reporting on NAC deployment progress across a variety of networks and systems. SecurityExpressions offers agent or agentless pass, fail or error assessments and notification for UNIX, Linux and Windows systems. This approach offers advantages compared to products that require long-term or short-term agent deployment. SecurityExpressions also supports a unique end-user, Web-based self-audit.

"With the help of Altiris solutions, NAC is becoming a reality for our clients," said Chuck Hegarty, vice president of sales for ITS Communications, a Cisco Systems and Altiris business partner. "We provide our clients with expert services to help them mitigate security threats before a virus or other infected system makes its way into their network."

Dwain Kinghorn, Altiris CTO, said, "Altiris recognizes computing security as a critical component of Altiris IT lifecycle management. We currently provide our customers with integrated solutions for vulnerability assessment, patch management, security event monitoring and automated, policy-based remediation. Altiris continues to work with Cisco to help customers reduce management costs while securing computing resources via initiatives like the quarantine-capable network."

Russell Rice, director of product marketing in Cisco's Security Technology Group, said, "Altiris helps us make deployment of a NAC framework a reality by integrating key management components into it. Altiris helps deliver agentless readiness assessments and Web-based self audits, to system remediation to network quarantine and policy compliance that can fit the needs of virtually any size network." About Altiris

Altiris, Inc. is a pioneer of IT lifecycle management software that allows IT organizations to easily manage, secure and service desktops, notebooks, thin clients, handhelds, industry-standard servers, and heterogeneous software including Windows, Linux and UNIX. Altiris automates and simplifies IT projects throughout the life of an asset to reduce the cost and complexity of management. Altiris client and mobile, server, security and IT asset management solutions natively integrate via a common Web-based console and repository. For more information, visit http://www.altiris.com. Altiris is a registered trademark of Altiris, Inc. in the U.S. and in other countries. Quarantine Solution is a trademark of Altiris, Inc. SecurityExpressions and Audit On Connect are trademarks of Pedestal Software, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Altiris, Inc. The other company names or products mentioned are or may be trademarks of their respective owners. * Gartner, Inc. "Protect Your Resources With a Network Access Control Process," John Pescatore, Mark Nicolett, Lawrence Orans, Dec. 1, 2004.