iPass Expands Its Policy Orchestration Capabilities To Ease Mobile Management



Endpoint Policy Management service helps enforce software policies

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. -/11 April, 2005 - Wi-Fi Technology Forum/- iPass Inc. (NASDAQ: IPAS) today announced that it has expanded its Policy Orchestration capabilities to permit companies to quickly bring remote and mobile devices into effective compliance with enterprise software policies as soon as they touch the Internet. The new Endpoint Policy Management?Enterprise service allows organizations to automatically distribute and upgrade software packages, as well as remove unauthorized or "rogue" applications, as soon as the device establishes an Internet or network connection.

Now, network administrators can more quickly enforce required security policies by delivering software and OS patches that address critical vulnerabilities before a threat compromises the endpoint and risks infecting corporate network assets.

As corporations embrace the necessity of an increasingly distributed workforce with many employees working on their notebooks or PDAs from home, traveling across town or around the world, or roaming the corporate campus on the wireless LAN, keeping devices secure and up-to-date has become a significant management challenge and business risk. iPass addresses this need with an agent-based solution that works as soon as a notebook is connected to the Internet. This Internet-based approach means the IT department can manage deployment of software and software updates even if the user is only surfing the Internet and never intends to log into the corporate network. The service includes performance features that seek to ensure updates are delivered promptly when the user accesses the internet, and it works to optimize downloads over slow or unreliable links.

"Our first mission is to secure the endpoint device?the corporate notebook or PDA," said Joel Wachtler, vice president of product management and strategy at iPass. "iPass brought to market a solution that works to ensure notebooks have all the required anti-virus and patch updates as soon as an Internet connection is established. Using this same technology we're able to assist IT departments with deploying any new software?from small upgrades and patches to multi megabyte-sized office suites?all without compromising end-user productivity."

As with all Policy Orchestration-enabled services, Endpoint Policy Management services complement emerging network compliance systems, such as Cisco NAC, Microsoft NAP or Sygate Secure Enterprise, to increase the depth of security. While network compliance solutions protect networks against infected devices, iPass' Endpoint Policy Management service focuses on protecting devices against malware delivered over networks, including the Internet. iPass is a member of the Cisco NAC program, Microsoft NAP Technology Adopter Program, and the Trusted Computing Group.

When an end-user connects to the Internet, the notebook seeks out an Endpoint Policy Management server and then is assessed according to policies set by the IT department. These assessments can include characteristics of anti-virus definition files, levels of OS patches, as well as the presence and version of any other required software. Endpoint Policy Management?Enterprise can likewise detect the presence of "rogue" software and automatically remove it. The service architecture is designed to ensure updates are received as soon as possible, mitigating corporate exposure to out-of-date devices.

With Dynamic Bandwidth Throttling, the service can deliver software updates efficiently in the background when the user is active. This technology allows the end-user to remain productive by trickling data while the user is sending or receiving information over the Internet connection. Whenever the connection becomes idle, Endpoint Policy Management?Enterprise will take advantage of available bandwidth to increase the speed of software updates. Updates can span multiple sessions if required, so users can intentionally or accidentally disconnect and then resume the download during a new session.

The service is available immediately and can be purchased either on a standalone basis or as an addition to the iPass Corporate Access? connectivity service.

About iPass
iPass Inc. (NASDAQ: IPAS) delivers simple, secure and manageable enterprise mobility services, maximizing the productivity of workers as they move between office, home and remote locations. iPass security services?based on unique Policy Orchestration capabilities?close the gaps in protecting computers, network assets, user identities and data whenever users connect over the Internet. iPass connectivity services utilize the iPass global virtual network, a unified network of hundreds of dial-up, wireless and broadband providers in over 150 countries. iPass services are the choice of hundreds of Global 2000 corporations including Ford Motor Company, Mellon Financial and H. J. Heinz Co. Founded in 1996, iPass is headquartered in Redwood Shores, Calif., with offices throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
http://www.ipass.com