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December 20/27, 1999

More Security For DSL And Cable-Modem Services
New offerings could help speed broader adoption of 'always-on' technology

By Brian Riggs

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s digital subscriber line and cable-modem services become more widely available, companies are growing interested in deploying these "always-on" connections to remote offices and telecommuters. But as adoption spreads, IT managers will face new remote PC security issues. Vendors are taking steps to help them.

This week, 3Com Corp. will ship its PathBuilder S500 switches with support for virtual private network connections over DSL links; prices start at $17,995. VPNs use encryption to carve out secure tunnels to carry traffic between a remote client and a server. Ramp Networks Inc. has released a DSL router that can set up VPNs over asymmetric, symmetric, and ISDN DSL. The $599 WebRamp 450i also lets IT set controls for functions such as the times remote users can use the Internet.

InfoExpress Inc. this week will unveil the Firewalker VPN suite with a firewall to protect PCs or branch-office networks using DSL or cable services. With these services, IP addresses generally don't change unless users disconnect--making PCs more vulnerable to intruders. Due next month, Firewalker starts at $129 per seat.

Also, Cisco Systems last week shipped its 1400 DSL and uBR924 cable-access routers with firewall and tunneling support.

"Firewalls are going to become more necessary to secure telecommuters' PCs," says Dataquest analyst John Coons. But for now, some companies just turn off continuous connections. Says Dale Kendrick, network manager at Workers' Compensation Fund in Salt Lake City, "We advise telecommuters to disconnect their DSL lines when they're not using the network."

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