StoneGate 5.3 Offers Improved Access Control, Authentication and Mass Security

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Network security provider Stonesoft today introduced the newest version of its StoneGate platform, which includes StoneGate Firewall/VPN 5.3 and StoneGate Management Center 5.3. The new version of these solutions offers enhanced access control, authentication and mass security as well as a broad range of additional features and improvements. StoneGate 5.3 demonstrates Stonesoft’s focus on delivering solutions that enable, rather than prevent, the flow of critical information across the business.

Today, organizations view network security as a series of devices and technologies that often inhibit rather than enable the flow of business. StoneGate 5.3 tackles this challenge by offering enhanced access control, sophisticated authentication and the option to easily mass deploy security by providing visibility and control into who’s accessing what information from which location and how.

Enhanced Access Control

StoneGate 5.3 introduces new, dynamic ways to control access as well as provide increased visibility into network security. The new version goes beyond application and identity awareness, providing previously unseen flexibility for access control.

The network administrator can allow or deny access based on a number of criteria that now includes users, user groups, domain names, applications, TLS matches, URL categories and zones. These elements are also available in logs, statistics and reports, thereby offering increased user and application awareness. In addition, the new version offers a range of usability enhancements including quick filtering and a new cell editor, which makes daily administration routines more efficient.

Authentication Server

Featured in the StoneGate 5.3 platform is the new StoneGate Authentication Server – a cost-efficient enterprise-level authentication solution designed with end-user usability in mind. It offers strong and innovative authentication methods for both StoneGate and third-party devices. The Authentication Server provides transparent integration with existing user databases by using automatic user linking. StoneGate Management Center (SMC) also provides built-in logging, live statistics and reporting functionalities. The solution is easy to deploy and seamlessly integrates with StoneGate Management Center, minimizing the overall TCO and need of extra training.

Mass Security

StoneGate 5.3 also supports a first-of-its-kind solution for the mass deployment of network security. Using a secure installation cloud service, as well as plug and play installation, firewall element creation wizard and initial policy push, administrators can predefine the deployment of network security at a new remote site. With configurations predefined, a non-technical person can simply plug in the device, which will then securely connect to Stonesoft’s Network Security Installation Cloud for configuration. Thanks to the streamlined installation process and efficient tuning and upkeep of the appliances, the StoneGate Mass Security solution is ideal for the needs of small branch and remote offices with no IT resources.

Additional features

Additional features and improvements offered by StoneGate 5.3 include:

Firewall browser-based user authentication provides an easy and intuitive interface for authenticating
New monitoring views for authenticated users, VPN security associations and route monitoring
Enhanced IPv6 support
Anti-Spam, which complements the StoneGate UTM feature portfolio, offering several anti-spam techniques and comprehensive configuration options
Multi-Link VPN Aggregation for secure and redundant connectivity over multiple ISP/CSP connections and quality-of-service-based Multi-Link selection
SMC HA improvements, including incremental database replication

For more information about the new features offered by StoneGate 5.3, please visit http://stoneblog.stonesoft.com/tag/5-3/ and http://masssecurity.stonesoft.com.

About Stonesoft

Stonesoft Corporation (NASDAQ OMX: SFT1V) delivers proven, innovative solutions that simplify network security management for even the most complex network environments. The StoneGate Platform unifies management of entire networks—including StoneGate and third-party devices—blending integrated threat management, end-to-end high availability and network optimization into a centrally controlled system. As a result, Stonesoft provides the highest levels of proactive control, always-on connectivity and compliance at the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) on the market today. Founded in 1990, the company is an established leader in network security innovation with corporate headquarters in Helsinki, Finland and Americas headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, visit www.stonesoft.com, www.antievasion.com and the corporate blog http://stoneblog.stonesoft.com.