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Cloud-connected security and storage solutions expert Barracuda Networks announced the availability of Barracuda SSL VPN version 2.5, designed to provide employees with improved remote access to internal Web applications and files from anywhere, including mobile devices like iOS, Windows phones and Android devices, without having to deploy or support full virtual private network (VPN) clients.
Barracuda SSL VPN is available for deployment in a variety of virtual appliances, in an effort to attract the attention of organizations looking to deploy in virtual environments, on-premises or in the cloud.
The platform also provides business continuity through remote access to corporate resources during natural disasters or other emergency events, and offers user-friendly configuration of Windows devices, as well as iPhones, iPads and Mac devices for Exchange, Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), Webclips, Client Certificates, IPsec and Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP).
The latest version of the platform is currently available worldwide at no additional charge to existing customers on the current hardware platform with an active Energize Updates subscription.
The list price starts at $699 for the appliance and list price of $199 for Energize Updates, though international pricing and availability vary by region, a company release noted.
In addition, an optional Instant Replacement service featuring priority replacement of failed hardware and complimentary refresh of 4-year-old hardware units is available starting at list price of $149 per year.
Highlights of the upgraded platform include a mobile portal that allows remote workers to securely access internal enterprise applications such as Sharepoint, Internal Order Systems, Intranets and more from a wide variety of mobile devices.
Administrators have control over user access with the option to further secure resources with one-time passwords to mobile phones, security prompt questions or integration with advanced authentication systems like hardware tokens, the networking protocol Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS), and other additional security features.
“The diversity of iOS, Android and Windows Mobile platforms in use in typical bring-your-own-device environments can make supporting VPN and remote access challenging,” said Stephen Pao, general manager of security for Barracuda. “The latest release of the platform is designed to provide an optimized mobile user experience, making it easy for IT administrators to offer their users secure, modern and cloud-like access to internal Web applications and files without the overhead of enterprise app stores or enterprise mobile device management platforms.”
Earlier this month, the company announced that it would offer advanced application security on Barracuda Load Balancer ADC models 540 and above at no additional cost.
In addition to providing authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) capabilities, the appliance includes application security capabilities including Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) Top 10 protection, outbound data loss prevention (DLP) monitoring and application distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) protection.