Leading network security company Fortinet has introduced its new secure wireless LAN solution specifically designed for distributed enterprises.

The new solution integrates wireless and wired access, security, authentication, switching and management, in an easily managed system that allows system-wide policy enforcement, a statement from Fortinet said. With it, administrators gain a broad, unified solution that provides unmatched protection, superior TCO and granular control through user authentication and device visibility across the entire network.

As part of the solution, Fortinet unveiled new wired and wireless products - the FortiSwitch-28C and FortiSwitch-348B Ethernet switches and FortiAP-14C and FortiAP-28C wireless access points.

“Due to the explosive growth of mobile devices and applications in the workplace, networks need to be re-architected for low latency, increased throughput, and of course strong security,” said Rohit Mehra, vice president, network infrastructure, IDC.

“Solutions such as Fortinet’s new secure WLAN solution address the major pain points that distributed enterprises face today – securely accommodating the exponential growth of BYOD for both employee and guest access; identifying and mitigating security issues; and reducing costs and complexities associated with provisioning and managing overlay wireless networks.”  

The solution uniquely integrates security into the fabric of the network to help organisations effectively address enterprise mobility. With it, Fortinet offers the most comprehensive solution on the market for consistently protecting the enterprise wired and wireless networks.

Available as part of the solution are two new wired and wireless products, which include FortiSwitch-28C and FortiSwitch-348B Ethernet switches and FortiAP-14C and FortiAP-28C wireless remote access points, the statement said.

The FortiSwitches provide seamless integration of various Fortinet technologies, while power-over-Ethernet functionality eliminates the need to run additional wires to power wireless access points. Furthermore, this enables power delivery to FortiVoice IP phones, FortiCam IP surveillance cameras, and other devices such as retail PoS devices.  

The new FortiAPs are small, plug-and-play 802.11n wireless access points that allow organizations to easily and securely extend wireless access to branch and home offices while retaining centralised management and policy control, it said.

Switch and AP management, as well as user and device policy enforcement, is powered by Fortinet FortiGate security appliances, which integrate advanced firewall protection, VPN connectivity, endpoint and application control, web filtering, antimalware and data loss prevention.

Combined, these form a complete, highly secure, end-to-end integrated wired and wireless network solution that is tailor-made for today’s mobile, distributed enterprise environment, the statement said.

Additionally, for enterprises that require two-factor authentication, the Fortinet Secure WLAN solution supports FortiAuthenticator series of authentication appliances that deliver both hardware token and soft token-based two-factor authentication to any third-party device.

“No other vendor provides such a complete, highly secure end-to-end, wired and wireless solution for the distributed enterprise,” said John Maddison, vice president of marketing at Fortinet. “With the Fortinet secure WLAN offering, customers get consolidation without compromise – they get a superior TCO solution that provides end-to-end wired and wireless network security, management, access and control.” – TradeArabia News Service