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Linux, OS X Desktops to Get NAP Support from Microsoft
Published: November 14, 2007
by Alex Woodie
Microsoft announced that it will extend to Linux and Macintosh desktops its network access protection (NAP) technology, which ensures PCs are fully patched and secured before allowing them to join a network. The software giant also announced a new "appliance form factor" for NAP, which won't be fully available from Microsoft until Windows Server 2008 ships next year.
NAP--also called network admission control (NAC) by others in the industry--is a relatively new security technology designed to ensure good digital hygiene is practiced on local networks to cut down on the attack surface that's available for hackers and malware writers to do their bidding.
Microsoft rolled out support for NAP with Windows Vista, and will support NAP in Windows XP when it ships service pack 3 during the middle part of next year. It will also provide the server component of NAP when Windows Server 2008 ships next year. In the meantime, Microsoft encourages its users to get its server-level NAP support from networking giant Cisco Systems (which of course calls it NAC), or to buy a NAP appliance from one of its partners.
This week, Microsoft announced that several third-party software developers have created connectors that allow Linux and Macintosh PCs to participate in its NAP environment. UNETsystem will support Linux and Macintosh with an updated version of its Anyclick for NAP software in 2008, while Avenda Systems will support Linux with the Avenda Linux Network Access Protection Agent, expected to be released soon.
On the appliance front, Microsoft announced that Celestix Networks will be the first company to release an NAP appliance. However, it won't ship until Windows Server 2008 hits the street next spring.
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