Press Release

Meetinghouse Announces Partnership With Senforce In Support of Standards-based Endpoint Integrity Solutions

Partnership makes it easier for enterprises to deploy and manage Trusted Computing Group’s Trusted Network Connect specification for endpoint integrity using 802.1X technology and centralized management tools

San Jose, CA (RSA Security Conference, McEnery Convention Center) February 15, 2006 – Meetinghouse (RSA Booth #531), a leading developer of 802.1X-based endpoint security software, and Senforce Technologies (RSA Booth #2042), a leader in central security policy enforcement, today announce a partnership and demonstration of their interoperability and mutual support for the Trusted Computing Group’s Trusted Network Connect (TNC) specification for endpoint integrity management. Meetinghouse and Senforce have developed components complying with the TNC specification that work together to provide control over users and devices that attempt to gain access to network resources. During the event, Meetinghouse and Senforce will be demonstrating the interoperability of the AEGIS SecureConnect 802.1X supplicant with Senforce’s Endpoint Security Suite (ESS) in support of this effort.

In a report published in November 2005 entitled Best Practices to Prepare for Network Quarantine, Forrester Research analyst Robert Whitely observed that "Perimeter security isn't enough to protect today's enterprises. Instead, firms need to build more comprehensive internal mechanisms that focus on integrating security into the network fabric — and that's where network quarantine comes in." The report went on to suggest that "First, firms need tools that can evaluate the client device. The goal is to build a 'bill of health' that determines network access based on a user's current compliance state. Next, firms need intelligent network devices that can authenticate users and restrict access based on this 'bill of health'. Today, the ideal mechanism is 802.1X, which allows routers, switches, and network appliances to provide port-based authentication. Finally, firms need the servers that define and enable the necessary network quarantine policies."

Meetinghouse and Senforce believe enterprise security professionals recognize a comprehensive, unified enterprise endpoint security solution requires the tandem approach of:

• Securing the endpoint from external threats; and
• Securing the enterprise network from endpoint introduced threats.

This initiative and announcement from Meetinghouse and Senforce Technologies brings a complete solution to the enterprise, and does so in a standards-based framework. Under the TNC framework, the combination of secure, authenticated connectivity and integrated endpoint security policy control for mobile (notebook PC) and fixed (desktop PC) endpoint protections delivers 'best-practice' results for the enterprise.

The Meetinghouse/Senforce technology integration will allow customers who are considering a TNC endpoint integrity solution to see validation of the specification in a production network. The Meetinghouse and Senforce demonstration checks the integrity of the device or user trying to gain access to a network and provides verification that the device meets minimum configuration requirements.

The enterprise benefits from this approach with a technology combination that includes infrastructure protection from unauthorized endpoint PC threats and protection for organization’s endpoint PC assets.

As part of the joint effort, Meetinghouse’s AEGIS SecureConnect enables an end-to-end solution for managing network access. This benefits enterprise managers by lowering the cost of maintaining network security policies, leveraging existing investments in network technology, and improving level of access control to critical network resources.

In protecting the endpoint, Senforce is a superior partner with the security breadth and depth found in its award-winning Endpoint Security Suite. ESS extends enterprise endpoint protections around day extenders and remote ‘road warriors’ wherever and whenever they leave the enterprise network. Senforce leads the industry with its patent-pending “location aware” security technology, and brings centrally-managed order and control to enterprise endpoint security defenses.

"Senforce and Meetinghouse offer enterprise customers the ability to deploy a standards-based security solution that aligns with the TNC specification," said Anthony Delli Colli, Meetinghouse’s Vice President of Sales & Marketing. "Senforce’s support for the TNC specification and their commitment to centralized security policy enforcement make them a natural partner for Meetinghouse. We believe the partnership with Senforce increases the attractiveness of AEGIS SecureConnect and Senforce ESS for customers who want the benefits of 802.1X security and the ease of centralized management."

"Meetinghouse is recognized as a leader in 802.1X security, and this partnership gives the industry a strong combination of Meetinghouse’s authentication and network edge defense in concert with Senforce’s centrally-managed endpoint security protections," said Nolan Rosen, Senforce’s Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. Senforce brings centrally-managed order and control to the enterprise Wi-Fi security challenge "The TNC specification gives our companies the ability to collaborate in a standard’s based framework that delivers a powerful solution to the enterprise,"

Interoperability features will be available in both Meetinghouse and Senforce respective product offerings in the second quarter of 2006.

About Senforce Technologies
Senforce Technologies® is a market leader of endpoint security software. Senforce enables IT organizations to protect employee computers, networks and data from malicious attacks, unauthorized access and misuse. Senforce products automate and control security practices by location (at the office, on the road or at home) through centralized policy-enforcement. Senforce customers, including financial services, government and major enterprise organizations use Senforce products to assure wired and wireless network security and to enforce endpoint compliance across the organization. Senforce Technologies is a privately held company headquartered in Draper, Utah. For more information, visit www.senforce.com or call 1.877.844.5430.


About Meetinghouse
Meetinghouse Data Communications is a recognized leader in standards-based wired and wireless LAN security. Meetinghouse provides industry leading standards-based network authentication software that supports a wide range of EAP methods, hardware devices, and operating systems Meetinghouse’s AEGIS Client and AEGIS Server provide enterprises with a cost-effective, easy-to-configure endpoint management and AAA/RADIUS solution for 802.1X/WPA networks. Meetinghouse also provides 802.1X API and Toolkits that enable leading networking companies to gain fast and easy support for 802.1X, WPA, EAP, and the Cisco Compatible Extension (CCX) Program. For additional information, visit the company website at www.mtghouse.com or call 1.603.430.7710.


Senforce Press Contact
Paula Dunne
Senforce Technologies, Inc.
pdunne@senforce.com
408.776-1400


Meetinghouse Press Contact
Kate Biddle, Marketing Manager
Meetinghouse Data Communications
kateb@mtghouse.com
603.430-7710 ext. 507



* Senforce Technologies is a registered trademark of Senforce Technologies, Inc., Senforce, Senforce Endpoint Security Suite, Senforce ESS, Senforce Wi-Fi Security, Senforce SWIS, are trademarks of Senforce Technologies, Inc. All other marks may be the property of their respective owners.

*Meetinghouse is a registered trademark of Meetinghouse Inc. All other trademarks are property of their owners.