Soka-Bau choses ForeScout Technologies security control

ForeScout Technologies, provider of automated security-control software, has been selected by Soka-Bau, a benefits, compensation, and pension-insurance services company, as its security-control platform to achieve full visibility and control of mobile and guest devices connecting to their corporate network. Soka-Bau's search for a robust network-security application was prompted by its decision to allow notebooks, corporate owned and those owned by authorised guests and contractors, to connect to the company network. Specifically, Soka-Bau was looking for a reliable approach that would allow it to classify all devices attempting to access network resources against pre-defined security policies, but needed to integrate as seamlessly as possible with their existing Cisco network infrastructure. The IT team at Soka-Bau evaluated a number of NAC (network access control) products before unanimously agreeing that ForeScout CounterACT provided the best software to meet its requirements. "Unlike other NAC software, CounterACT didn't require installation and management of 802.1x software, didn't need to operate in-line and didn't require so many components for the NAC to actually work," explained Steffen Appel, Group Leader WAN Security at SOKA-BAU. "It provided great, integrated functionality without the high initial cost, deployment risks and overall effort that would have come with the other NAC approaches we evaluated." Since the initial installation, Soka-Bau has gradually implemented CounterACT's advanced features and has extended their security policies across additional sub networks. The company has also deployed additional CounterACT appliances to achieve a high-availability configuration and centralised management. Soka-Bau's network includes around 4000 endpoints spread across its headquarters, seven branch offices and numerous home offices. The organisation is currently running and controlling several NAC specific VLANs, including a guest network, a network for software installations, and a quarantine network for infected devices. The implementation of a remediation network, as well as a sub network for consultants is planned in the near future. John Hagerty, EMEA sales director at ForeScout, commented, "Organisations are recognising our integrated, non-disruptive and extensible approach towards network access control and endpoint compliance over that of leading network infrastructure providers. The fact that we are easy to use, more manageable, and work with a customer's existing infrastructure means that our customers can realise results and cost-savings that much faster and with more assurance." ForeScout was recently recognised by Frost & Sullivan as the largest independent NAC vendor, and one that is growing the fastest among leaders in the NAC market. Obtain a complimentary copy of the report (link below). ForeScout Complimentary copy of Frost & Sullivan report Soka-Bau