Ensure Information Security with SSL VPNs

For any enterprise, information security is of paramount importance. And in today’s business scenario, where technological advancements have increased BYOD prevalence, ensuring information security becomes very important to protect information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, perusal, inspection, recording or destruction. Hence, in the remote access scene, Secure Sockets Layer Virtual Private Networks (SSL VPNs) is gaining great popularity as it ensures secure, controlled and remote access to any application, from any device and from any location. An SSL VPN is a kind of VPN that allows remote users and mobile workforce to access Web applications, client/server applications and internal network connections easily and securely. SSL VPN refers to “a new and fast-growing product category comprised of a variety of technologies, based on the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol.”

Before SSL VPNs entered the scene, the most widely used VPN was IPSec VPN. It required the installation of a client on the end user device to transport private data across the public internet. However, it was time consuming and made trouble shooting very difficult. With the emergence of SSL VPNs, the remote access scene has become less complicated and simple. It allows restricted network resources to be accessed remotely by means of a secure and authenticated pathway by encrypting all network traffic. Here is a look at some of the advantages of SSL VPNs.

• As SSL VPN requires no client software accessing Web-enabled applications, the deployment, management and administration of SSL VPN is easy and effective.
• SSL VPN provides secure, scalable, easy to use and browser based access to resources and applications
• SSL VPN being clientless makes the provisioning of new users simple and easy
• As SSL VPNs are easy to deploy and use, it leads to reduced support requirements
• AS it provides secure remote access, it ensures business continuity in the event of a disaster, pandemic or business interruption
• SSL VPNs provide encrypted authentication, browser cache cleansing, strong data encryption, endpoint inspection and forced remediation thereby ensuring utmost information security

Thus, SSL VPNs allow employees, partners, customers, contractors and guests to quickly and securely access the resources and applications for which they are authorized through a common Web browser. However, to ensure secure remote access ,users need to deploy best of the breed SSL VPN solutions. The following are some of the benefits offered by a best of the breed SSL VPN solution.

• Up to 3.2 Gbps throughput, 128,000 concurrent users and 500,000 users on a single access gateway appliance for maintaining security and driving productivity at scale
• 256 virtual SSL VPN portals on a single appliance, customizable to the security and usability preferences of multiple tenants and communities of interest
• Range of access methods including Web, Layer-3 and client-server connectivity
• High-performance 1024, 2048 and 4096-bit SSL encrypted communications
• No pre-installed clients; eliminates firewall and network traversal issues common to traditional VPNs
• Supports a range of AAA and dual-factor authentication schemes

With SSL VPNs facilitating anytime, anywhere secure remote access to business applications, it ensures increased productivity, while at the same time maintaining security and compliance.

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Load Balancers

Application Delivery Networking

Improve Network Performance with Effective Load Balancing Appliances

With the increase in the size of an enterprise, there is an increase in the strain on the databases, network servers, and other crucial areas. Especially effective for organizations that use multiple data centers and server farms, load balancing solutions monitor the workload of servers and help to direct users.

With the increase in the size of an enterprise, there is an increase in the strain on the databases, network servers, and other crucial areas. Especially effective for organizations that use multiple data centers and server farms, load balancing solutions monitor the workload of servers and help to direct users. It addresses traffic spikes that can compromise the functionality, security, and capability of your network. By assuring that the resources are not overloaded, load balancing appliances enable a network to increase its consistency and performance. They are essential to maintain a standard process of network performance.

To maintain a standard method for network performance, it is important to invest in an active load balancing solution. This ensures that the resources and requests are distributed efficiently through the servers that are accessible. Advanced load balancing appliances utilizes technology that is effectively executed with every network. Besides meeting the fundamental requirements, these devices aid in enhancing the performance and consistency. Most large enterprises often use specifically built hardware-based load balancers, while smaller organizations usually get the best out of virtual load balancers.

To allocate the necessary tasks, load balancers go through a series of steps. Most load balancing methods vary greatly between different networks and organizations depending on the needs of the organization and the equipment available to perform the task. On the basis of the hardware and organizational needs, it is essential to implement and customize these solutions with a reputable service provider. As each network faces different challenges and works within different constraints, link load balancers help in astutely analyzing the wide area connections and accordingly allocate bandwidth, for business-critical applications.

A majority of businesses rely on internet sites to run optimally 24/7, and the responsibility lies with the IT staff to provide 100 percent operational-ready solutions. In order to enhance business productivity and reduce the risk of Internet and improve network performance, many enterprises are adapting intelligent load balancers to their networks. As load balancing appliances have the potential to handle more than one function, use the right load balancing techniques to optimize system performance through higher availability and scalability.

Organizations thus need to make use of effective server load balancing appliances which would enhance application performance and ensure returns on investment. Leading service providers with expertise in Application Delivery Networking have designed and developed innovative load balancing appliances that helps to monitor the data center devices and IP data services as well.

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Business Continuity Planning

Reasons to resort to RDP Access Solution

The modern day work scenario is no more about sitting in one place and doing a regular job from nine to six. Rather it is about being able to work from anywhere and everywhere. At the same time, employees want to manage a healthy balance between work and home. Therefore, many opt in from working from home in certain occasions. Most companies need to find the best solution to cater to this changing job environment. On the other hand there are companies that have already found an answer to it. The answer is resorting to remote desktop (RDP) solutions that encourage the concept of "anywhere and anytime" office.

Remote desktop access and user experience
Today leading companies dealing in application delivery networking has come up with remote desktop access solutions. This allows remote employees to connect instantly to their office desktops by launching a mobile application or opening any web browser such as Mozilla, Safari, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome and the like. The employees log in with their daily credentials and then they are presented with their desktop icons to as they have customized. Therefore, they are at a beneficial position from the familiarity of their formal desktop environment. It's synonymous to working from an office.

Application Usages
Remote desktop access helps to leverage the present application, desktop and security architecture. Though there may be some employees who might have access to a virtualized desktop, a generic PC work platform is provided to every employee. There is no requirement for any new software or hardware, licenses or any other application platforms. The employees all over the enterprise are offered total application accessibility.

Data security with Remote Desktops
RDP access helps to effortlessly expand compliance that has been established on office computing devices to remote and mobile devices. Hence, the IT department needs to take no more initiative to retain compliance. The solution's appliance is based on "on-premise" infrastructure and offers total control for IT administrators that include termination and viewing of real-time sessions.

Owing to the fact that RDP access infrastructure transmits only video, keyboard and mouse control data between remote devices and office computers, the data never leaves the official network. Furthermore, controls for copy, paste and printing as well as measures against screen capture and key logging might be allowed in order to completely eradicate data leakage.

Therefore, in this modern day working environment need a working system that can adapt to their changing circumstance. At the same time, organizations too would want to maintain total productivity. With advanced remote desktop solutions companies can attain their targets and employees too can effortlessly maintain a work-life balance.

 

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Load balancing

Secure Access Gateway

Increased Prominence of BYOD Strategy

Most entrepreneurs and organizations are of opinion that the concept of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is gradually becoming important. This device represents an essential facet in an individual's life. The way an individual feels and how productive he is utilizing it all goes on to translate his emotional happiness. It is synonymous to the thought that when office workers do not have a specific uniform, then why they should use uniform computing devices. Using a computing device that they are happy with naturally enhances their productivity according to Forrester research.

Prevalence of BYOD

It is essential that organizations ensure that they are equipped with facilities to assist the correct behavior trends with the propagation of these devices. Though it is easy to say than perform, organizations today are working in order to solve these concerns. A lot is being done by various service providers to assist enterprises to manage and secure their email, enable end users to avail it securely from their device, that includes iPhone, Blackberry, Windows Phone as well as Android. It is essential to place the data in the hands of the user on device but in a compliant and secure way.

Today eminent service providers of Application Delivery Networking have introduced innovative remote desktop solution for BYOD and tablet access. As opposed to VPN's this solution allows workers to avail virtual and physical desktops from anywhere simultaneously, keeping remote devices off the network. Regardless, whether users are in their residence, office, partner site or a meeting or on iPad or Android devices they are able to work like the way they do in their office. The risk of information leaving the network is completely eradicated.

Remote Desktop for BYOD

In order to allow tablet remote access to personal Android and iPad devices, remote desktop appliance is installed within a corporate network that sets up user credential for a safe access. Either virtual or physical office desktops can be registered for users. This is a simple process that can be completed by an able administrator through a database or manually.

BYOD ensures Business Continuity and Productivity

Deploying remote desktop solutions to ensure tablet remote access for their working staff, organizations attain a cost-efficient solution. This solution is completely safe and under IT control and simultaneously offers complete application availability and assists bring your own device strategy. It is easy to implement and simple to use and manage. Furthermore there is also a remote access solution for business continuity and productivity enabling users to log in to their office desktops anytime and anywhere.

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Link Load Balancer

Understanding the Importance of a Load Balancing Appliance

Being a vital part of a network, load balancing appliances leverage parallel multi-core processing in order to cost-effectively drive high-end performance across a high quality application acceleration. Load balancing solutions are essential to maintain a standard process of network performance. It allows a network to enhance its consistency and performance, with solutions that include both hardware and software balancing devices. It adds redundancy, intelligence and resilience to your network, and enables users to have access to applications and data that keep your business running.

Organizations of all sizes can secure, optimize and scale their network edge and perimeter by managing bandwidth and traffic with user and application visibility. With the consolidation of multiple WAN bandwidth management functions into an optimized management platform, many organizations can not only simplify their management of edge services, but can also  increase performance and reliability for applications. There are renowned service providers that specialize in Application Delivery Networking, and they have come up with innovative load balancing appliances. In addition to that, you can even monitor the data center devices as well as IP data services. These service providers also offer solutions for application delivery controller and SSL VPN solutions. With a load balancing appliance, the application performance and the return on investment is enhanced, in small enterprises as well as large enterprises.

Although based on your network requirements and preferences you can always have your load balancing solution customized from the selected service provider. Some of the attributes of a load balancing appliance are as follows:

* A load balancing appliance has good application-fluent traffic management for the best delivery of business critical applications and IP services.

* Load balancing appliances have offloading of web application servers for better efficiency and capacity.

* The global and local server load balancing is done using multi-unit clustering for maximum application uptime and data center scalability.

* It has Reverse-proxy architecture with packet-inspection firewall for guarding applications without impacting performance.

* Application-specific certifications and configuration guides for rapid deployment of optimized configurations.

Load balancers can astutely analyze the wide area connections and accordingly allocate bandwidth, and enable seamless fail over for business-critical applications. Both load balancing appliances and load balancing software have the potential to handle more than one function. They provide benefits concerning certain network levels. Owing to the fact that two IT architectures are never same, it is essential to assess the performance of each network levels before selecting on a single solution.

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RDP 

Android Remote Desktop

Create Consistent Networks with Link Load Balancing Appliances

The business environment today is extremely tech savvy with advanced internet applications and various software usages. Every organization today largely depends on internet to connect to other network offices globally. Hence, internet is the crucial element of every business activity and requires being easily accessible and consistently assuring business continuity. This is where link load balancing becomes important, as it offers a cost-efficient manageable links to cater to business requirements.

Load balancing is the process that helps in evenly disseminating service or processing requests across numerous devices within a network. Dedicated hardware, software and servers carry on the load balancing; hence load balancers are an important element in a network. In order to have a stable network an organization requires dynamic load balancing solution. Another aspect that requires attention is assuring that there is optimum resources dissemination throughout the servers. Organizations utilize at least two ISP links nowadays to link the internal network with the internet. Out of these two links one is used and the second one is kept as a back up. In order to weed out the needless ISP blocking, service providers of Application Delivery Networking have come with link load balancing solutions.

Link load balancing appliances utilizes technology that is effectively executed with every network. Apart from catering to basic requirements, these devices help to maximize the performance and consistency and lead to cost reduction. In addition to that, they also enable to optimize the internet bandwidth by using ongoing proximity measures and service response time. This in turn enables in identifying feasible links to service given application transaction. Using all accessible ISP links and intelligence traffic management helps the link load balancer manage the outbound and inbound network traffic efficiently.

Benefits of link load balancing appliances
There are numerous benefits of link load balancing appliances. Some of them are listed below:-

* The devices have high reliability as they automatically switches from one service provider to the other whenever there is a network failure
* If there is a WAN network problem, then the link load balancer helps to redirect the network traffic by promising business continuity
* These devices have the capacity to analyze intelligently a broader area of connections and locate the bandwidth accordingly.

Few other advantages of link load balancing appliances consist of real-time monitoring of WAN links. They enable in leveraging bandwidth management and compression resulting in efficient utilization of WAN bandwidth.  Furthermore, these devices smooth the progress of global server load balancers for crucial business applications and enhance the end-user experience simultaneously reducing bandwidth expenses and data center complexity.

Other Links

Remote Desktop
iPad Remote Desktop

Application Delivery Networking: Functions of application delivery controller

In this technology driven business environment, data centers have become the lifeline of every organization, irrespective of its size. The concept of electronic data storage and transfer has been prevalent since the birth of the computers. However, with the advent of technology, the size of the machines reduced drastically with an increase in computing powers. These developments like a chain reaction led to the wider use of the technology in the everyday functioning of large business houses and global organization, leading to use of technology driven machines in a networked environment.

Data centers, with their efficient computing services in a networked environment and a safe and secure storage system for the mission critical data were made up of large rooms or multiple floors of a building and housed servers, storage devices, telecom and application delivery networking systems. The application delivery network is nothing but a suit of technologies that ensures application availability, security and visibility throughout the network, irrespective of the location or device. Prevalent in most data centers catering to a global organization, such networking systems are a combination of wide area networking and application delivery controllers.

Application delivery controller also known as web switch or a content switch is loaded with a number of useful functions. As an advanced traffic management device in a networked environment, this helps to distribute specific applications to a number of geographically distant servers and sites. Being placed between the router or firewall and a web farm it also facilitates load balancing of the website traffic at times when there is a mix of applications over a wider network. Having evolved from layer 4-7 switches, the application delivery controllers facilitates content manipulation, advanced routing strategies and also monitors the configurable server health.

Though application delivery controller in all networking systems offer a number of features like compression, cache, connection multiplexing, application layer security, SSL offload, content switching along with server load balancing, the application delivery networking is being separated for a general network optimization and application specific optimization. Other functions that the ADC’s are capable of are TCP offload and acceleration capabilities in branch networks and integration of malware and DDOS protection on web application through firewall protection.

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Access Control

SSL VPNs

Application Delivery Controllers: Gateway To An Improved Application Performance

The business environment today is more complex than the earlier days. The success of every business even in yesteryears depended on the principle of providing the right information or product to the right people at the right time. However, today’s globalized business environment with stress on centralization, and mobilization makes it a complex one.

To be at an advantage, it becomes necessary for organizations to not only improve customer service but also ensure easy faster access and response to various application delivery and business intelligence. Besides being globally accessible also demands for effective security measures against threats to users, systems and applications. Availability of on-demand application delivery, a secure web gateway and easy access to critical business info are vital components for a successful business.

Further with expanse of applications required by the global organizations, results in increase of IT infrastructure. However, to control the expenses on IT infrastructure and related overhead cost, organizations tend to centralize the flow of data and applications from the data centers. An application delivery controller is a device placed in a data center between the firewall and one or more application servers.

The first-generation of controllers were primarily meant for application acceleration and load balancing between servers. However, the new technology based application controllers cover wider functions from widespread data centers and are capable of a more holistic method of functioning resulting in application delivery networking. This facilitates consistent availability of the applications and thus increases productivity. Other features of found in the new age application delivery controllers include, compression, cache, connection multiplexing, application layer security, SSL offload and content switching combined with fundamental server load balancing.

The application delivery controllers with its energy-efficient components, excellent ethernet connectivity and state-of-the-art multi-core processing cater to both SME’s  as well as global organizations. Further, equipped with cutting edge technologies and industry leading features such as scalability, cloud level performance, application control, optimization and security these are structured for modern data centers.

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Link Load Balancer 

RDP