WatchGuard SSL 560 secure remote-access appliance

The SSL 560 secure remote-access appliance provides reliable connectivity to corporate networks, applications and data and is suitable for large organisations with up to 500 concurrent remote and mobile workers.

Because of its authentication technology, it allows businesses the flexibility of defining user databases onboard the appliance or integrating with other third-party authentication systems, such as LDAP, Active Directory or RADIUS.

The appliance provides a history of remote user information that gives businesses insight to better manage and adjust remote resources, applications and infrastructure needs.

For organisations that want to deliver applications or tools to remote users, it offers delivery of non-native desktop and server applications such as secure shell and remote desktop. The appliance also adds support for applications such as Citrix XenApp and Outlook Web Access 2010 and ActiveSync from Microsoft, allowing remote workers to securely access and work with applications as if they were in the office from any location worldwide.

The desktop sharing and remote assist feature allows administrators to initiate connections to remote devices, such as laptops, from their helpdesk. They can then take control of and diagnose remote user issues quickly and easily.

Using the company’s security heritage and technology portfolio, the appliance provides security features for remote workers. With its deep device examination, end-point integrity checking functionality, users can create and enforce security policies to ensure connecting devices have firewall protection and up-to-date antivirus definitions.

The appliance provides a web-based auto-loading access client that automatically loads after successful authentication, eliminating the need to pre-install a client application on remote users’ systems, while simplifying secure access to network resources.

Additional security can be utilised with onboard two-factor authentication. The device can generate SMS-based tokens and one-time password to a user’s mobile device. For businesses that currently use external authentication methods, it supports over a dozen different authentication types.

The device also provides enhanced access client support, and supports Microsoft XP, Vista and Windows 7 clients, as well as allowing for clientless access options.