McAfee is to release a beta of desktop and laptop policy
enforcement software which ensures users’ PCs comply with corporate
security policies.
The McAfee Policy Enforcer 1.0 can make checks to ensure that
anti-virus programs are running or are up-to-date, including
security software from McAfee rivals Symantec, Trend Micro and
others.
For remote connectivity, the software can also ensure that
virtual private networking client software from several companies
is also in full working order.
The product integrates with McAfee’s ePolicy Orchestrator 3.6
platform to ensure ease of deployment and lower management and
integration costs.
Analyst Gartner recently estimated that 80% of enterprises will
have implemented network access control policies and procedures by
the end of 2007, and McAfee’s Policy Enforcer is designed to
address this demand.
“With the increase in laptop adoption, the variety of connection
methods and the mobility of employees, the importance of having
more comprehensive network access control has increased,” said
Gartner analyst John Pescatore.
Policy Enforcer integrates with Cisco’s Network Admission
Control (NAC) framework and Microsoft’s Network Access Protection
(NAP) system.
The beta will be available towards the end of this month and the
commercial product will be available in early 2006, said the
company.