Network security provider Fortinet has announced the introduction of FortiClient, an endpoint software agent that enables organizations to deploy business practices requiring secure remote access connectivity for its distributed and mobile workforce, contractors and partners. As an all-inclusive remote access security solution, FortiClient optimizes an organization’s security posture, helps organizations meet regulatory and legal requirements and helps enforce corporate compliance policies to prevent unauthorized devices from accessing the corporate network.

FortiClient represents an important addition to the Fortinet product strategy, delivering a flexible, broad security solution spanning edge to core with centrally managed services.

The highly-modular design of the FortiClient solution combines essential data encryption, authentication, endpoint access control and WAN optimization functions in a single, easy to use, lightweight endpoint agent. For maximum deployment flexibility, security administrators can choose from multiple implementation methods to help secure the remote access privileges of different classes of users. This provides organizations with the freedom to leverage either the complete client suite of features, or choose specific functions based on individual remote access connectivity needs. For example, security administrators may want to implement IPsec traffic encryption for full-time employees and SSL encryption for contractors and partners.

Working in conjunction with Fortinet’s FortiGate consolidated security appliances, the FortiClient focuses on four key capabilities, all from a single agent, to support the differing remote access security needs of its customers:

• IPsec and SSL VPN for data encryption. A simple configuration wizard is provided to help create client-to-site VPN policies for remote access. SSL VPN tunnel mode and split tunneling provides the freedom to connect remotely using Web-based access

• Two-factor authentication for identity verification. FortiClient fully supports Local, RADIUS, LDAP, SecurID (via RADIUS Proxy), FortiToken, email and SMS-based authentication options

• Endpoint control helps prevent non-compliant devices from accessing the network, allowing organizations to enforce their security policies at the network edge

• WAN optimization reduces bandwidth consumption, accelerates network performance, decreases download time and improves the efficiency of HTTP, FTP, CIFS, MAPI and general TCP traffic

“FortiClient is a vital piece of our end-to-end security strategy for enterprises and SMB customers.” said Michael Xie, founder, CTO and vice president of engineering at Fortinet. “By consolidating such a rich set of security capabilities into a simple to deploy software agent, customers big and small can now implement the right kind of remote access connection for the right kind of user within one security framework. As a result, best business practices requiring secure remote access can be easily and cost-effectively implemented which, in turn, can lower an organization’s total cost of ownership.”