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Microsoft Extends Secure Access Platform with Whale Communications Buy

Microsoft has completed the acquisition of VPN vendor Whale Communications Ltd., strengthening its secure access platform. Microsoft said it is selling Whale’s product line, Intelligent Application Gateway, and add-on modules including Whale’s Connectivity Modules and Application Optimizers and Whale’s application optimizers at 25 percent off.

Whale’s products, which give remote users access to applications when they are outside of the corporate firewall, have a number of capabilities not presently offered in Microsoft’s remote access security product, ISA Server. These include the ability to make VPN connections based on the SSL protocol, and technology in the optimizers that allows network administrators to set policies so remote users can access only specific applications on the network.

"Until now, this technology has primarily been acquired and deployed by enterprise customers. We are looking to drive adoption across a wider range of businesses, making remote-access technology simpler to obtain, deploy, manage and use," said Microsoft General Manager Bob Kelly.

Microsoft said it is working with our OEM partners to release an updated Whale and Microsoft ISA Server 2006 appliance, which is planned for an early 2007 release. The company said it will be integrating Whale technologies into the next release of ISA Server, with the intent to release shortly after Windows Server codename 'Longhorn'.


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