McAfee Monday announced it is making available the beta version of its desktop-based policy enforcement software that can provide over 400 different security checks before allowing a LAN connection or remote VPN access.
The McAfee Policy Enforcer 1.0 can check to ensure that 14 different anti-virus programs are running or up to date, including not only McAfee's but competitors such as Symantec or Trend Micro. The software can ensure that up-to-date software patches are applied or that VPN software from vendors such as Nortel, Check Point, Cisco and Juniper are in use for remote connections.
According to McAfee marketing director Michelle Cobb, the Policy Enforcer software is managed by McAfee's ePolicy Orchestrator, which manages several other McAfee security products.
With its beta program now officially launched, McAfee has no set shipping date or pricing determined for Policy Enforcer 1.0. However, McAfee does have a roadmap with what it plans to do in future releases.
"In early 2006, we'll incorporate the Cisco Network Admission Control functions," Cobb says. Other plans also include building in support for the Trusted Network Connect specification and Microsoft Network Access Protection.
