"The new integration with security-enabled switches," said Felman, "ensure that before someone has a chance to enter a password for access to the network, the client is checked for compliance with the set policies."
The new centrally-managed policy maker and enforcer also now sports support for security patches and service packs -- such as the blizzard of those released by Microsoft -- so that endpoint machines are forced to deploy those that administrators think are necessary before the systems connect to the enterprise environment.
Other improvements to Integrity 5.0 include new enforcement support for anti-virus products from Computer Associates and Sophos, in addition to existing support for Symantec, McAfee, and Trend Micro software. Integrity 5.0 automatically gathers signature file updates for products from all five companies from a reference PC, then deploys them immediately so that end-point systems are brought into compliance.
As a complement to Integrity 5.0, Zone Labs is also rolling out an updated edition of Integrity IM Security 5.0, with new protection for the ICQ instant messaging service (IM Security already supported AOL's, Yahoo's, and MSN's public IM networks).
"Enterprises are finding that they can't just say "no" to workers to use public networks," said Felman, "and the addition of ICQ is significant. Lots of technical folk in business are addicted to ICQ."
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