Cisco and Microsoft will have more secure networks in next year

After two years of working together, these companies said that it would take another year before acquiring integrated network security products.

Implementing effective security operations is not easy. Build it into locking systems and software that takes a lot of time, more than any commercial business. Two years ago Cisco Systems and Microsoft promised that the two companies would work together to create better network and computer protection products through developments such as tornadoes of threats. Last week, these companies revealed the first details of the plan to reach the goal of two years ago. This plan will be completed when they achieve the necessary technologies by the end of next year.

The goal is to get Cisco's Network Admission Control (or NAC) technology to work with Microsoft's Network Access Protection (or NAP). These two technologies will be integrated into Windows Vista and Longhorn operating systems. They are capable of preventing computers infected with mailware from connecting to the network.

If successful, the results can create a breakthrough in the integration of IT security products. The goal is to release Longhorn in the second half of next year. But network access control cannot wait. Commercial activities will still have to continue using older Cisco technologies and some products from other security vendors.

Combining NAP and NAC includes combining some client-side software programs. These programs will check and communicate 'health' information of laptops, desktops and other devices trying to connect to the network. The process begins when a client using Vista tries to authenticate the network by sending a 'health check command' to the Cisco Secure Access Control Server via a switch or a router. Microsoft System-health agent software or a third-party vendor like Altiris, McAfee and Symantec can be used.

Each time the Access Control Server service receives an authentication and administrative request, it contacts the Microsoft Network Policy Server to return the connection to the server authority health-registration or server policy to determine whether the client has access. network or not. Then return this decision to the Access Control Server.

Legal barrier

Cisco and Microsoft have just revealed a little bit about how the operation of collaborative technologies will work together. 'We want to make sure this first,' said Mark Ashida, general manager of Microsoft Enterprise Networking. The biggest challenge is combining technology issues. 'We are dominated by people who hold intellectual property laws'. Bob Gleichauf, additional Cisco's Security Technology CTO 'we must have a separate legal team to work with copyright laws'.

Cisco and Microsoft 's joint cooperation and operations in this area have yet to gain special attention from most other companies, as long as they use Vista and Longhorn. But these companies will not wait, Gartner VP John Pescatore said. 'If Vista is not released in 2008, you should look for other programs and techniques. Ask manufacturers how they plan to participate in Microsoft and Cisco plans'.

Astrium North America cannot wait. This unit of EADS Space Transportation knew that even more time than Microsoft and Cisco could not control all Windows, Linux, Mac and Unix clients trying to connect to the network. Astrium is currently working on the classification project of State Council arms-trafficking rules that are also involved in releasing an NAC application on the Lockdown Network networks. George Owoc, director of commercial management at Astrium. 'I'm a big fan of Cisco. But I don't see what Microsoft and Cisco will offer us to be able to work with Lockdown '.

Main milestones October 2004

Cisco and Microsoft announced plans to merge their two technologies, Network Admission Control and Network Access Protection. February 2006

Bill Gates implemented the NAP program demo in the keynote speech at RSA Security security conference June 2006

Researchers found a flaw that allowed an attacker to gain access as an admin at the ACS servers of Cisco Secure, a key component of NAC in July 2006.

Cisco purchased Meetinghouse Data Communications for $ 43.7 million, preparing for the 802.1x support, another NAC key technology September 2006

Cisco and Microsoft revealed the first details of the joint operation of the NAC and NAP Half-2007 technologies

NAC and NAP products will be released by Cisco and Microsoft

T.Thu