Citrix To Ship Updated Secure Access Manager With Outlook 2003, Portal Support
MetaFrame Secure Access Manager 2.2, developed under the code name "Tampa" and announced last week, exploits new synchronization features in Office 2003 that will give mobile users full offline support and access to Exchange server data securely, executives of the Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based company said.
The latest update allows customers to use their intranet or portal interface of choice, including IBM WebSphere, SAP Enterprise Portal and Microsoft SharePoint, as well as the default Citrix Access Center interface. "It gives companies the flexibility of using an interface they've already purchased," said David Precopio, director of product marketing at Citrix.
Secure Access Manager, which was launched last May as an enhanced version of the former NFuse Elite product, is a core component of Citrix's MetaFrame Access Suite and provides a secure, single point of access to enterprise applications and data.
For instance, the product offers improved Internet security with standards-based Secure Socket Layer (SSL)/Transport Layer Security and optional support for third-party security offerings, including RSA SecurID authentication from a browser.
Solution providers say it was a wise move for Citrix to integrate Secure Access Manager with popular third-party e-mail and portal solutions in order to promote use of the security product among Citrix's large installed base.
"With Secure Access Manager, you achieve access to full e-mail capabilities both on- and offline as well as full enterprise application access via SSL technology. The other major win is the alternate interface support," said Paul Kunze, director of sales at IntraSystems, Randolph, Mass. "Many enterprise organizations already have committed to a portal or intranet strategy but find that they cannot truly deploy to any user because there is no secure fashion to accomplish the task. Integrating SAM into a corporate portal allows you to use role-based access control and SSL-based security connectivity for access no matter where the user resides. Companies already utilize Citrix's Web Interface to deliver their applications to portals. This takes it one more step by adding all content to the solution."
Other solution providers agree to the significance of the wide interface support.
"That's the big deal," said Dean Maire, vice president of Alliance Business Development at Vector ESP, Houston, a Citrix Platinum Partner. "You can access SharePoint and other back-ends. You now have the best product to provide access to your systems."
Citrix said version 2.2 has begun shipping in limited quantities but will be fully available by the end of the month. A 50-user concurrent license starter system is priced from $7,250, or roughly $145 per concurrent license
The software will also be included as part of MetaFrame Access Suite.