Anyclick for NAP coming to Macs next year

Microsoft announced on Tuesday at its TechEd IT Forum that UNETsystem plans to release both Mac and Linux versions of its Anyclick for NAP (Network Access Protection) software next year. Avenda Systems will release the Avenda Linux Network Access Protection Agent to extend NAP technology to network nodes running Linux, according to eWeek.com, and Celestix Networks has already developed an appliance to provide the NAP policy-enforcement platform. The new offerings are slated for shipment just after Windows Server 2008 ships in February of 2008.

NAP is based on the premise that clients need their identity evaluated when they attach to a network or server, and those clients need to comply to a specific set of policies, according to Microsoft product unit manager Paul Mayfield.

"We have worked with UNetsystem and Avenda Systems, and we are working with others, to provide the ability for third party operating systems to report their identities and current compliance state to the network," Mayfield said. "Our servers then have policies that evaluate what rights those identities have and whether what is being reported in terms of compliance is indeed in line with company policies."

Microsoft's manager said the software will ensure specific services are on or off and that predefined ports are locked down, but refused to provide further details.

"I expect we will see more and more integration happening with third party antivirus over time, but I don't know whether that's included in this release," Mayfield added.

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