Cisco Systems Inc is set to release an enterprise security administration server designed to monitor both local and wide area network environments, according to InfoWorld. If the plans go ahead Cisco will be one of the first vendors to consolidate local and wide area security administration functions which have previously required separate systems to monitor network security. The Windows NT-based server will automatically govern user access using a combination of filtering, tunneling, encryption and security functions and thereby ensure consistent access and security policies across the enterprise. A user will only need one password to access corporate servers and the Internet. Access policies set up at the server will be downloaded to any location within the Cisco firewall or routed to the closest point of user log in. The server will control all security functions on Cisco devices across the network and will integrate Domain Name Server and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol directory services. It will also use network management software, acquired from its purchase of Netsys Technologies Inc, that automatically carries out access policy.
