Loophold announces Trustwave’s sixth NAC patent

LOOPHOLD Security Distribution, local distributors of Trustwave on-demand data security and payment card industry compliance management solutions, is pleased to announce that Trustwave recently received its sixth U.S. patent for its Network Access Control (NAC) technology.

Trustwave NAC patent #11/329,786 was specifically issued for its ability to provide network-based detection of wireless endpoints.

NAC technology helps prevent unknown or unauthorised endpoints – such as a laptop from a third-party vendor – from connecting to a network. These types of endpoints are primary vectors for the introduction of viruses and other malware onto corporate networks. Trustwave NAC can check an endpoint’s security posture before allowing it to connect, and also governs each endpoint’s behaviour on the network once access is granted.

Says Martin Tassev, Managing Director at LOOPHOLD Security Distribution:

“This sixth NAC patent from Trustwave enables us to offer an even more comprehensive solution to our customers by allowing for the detection and management of endpoints connected to wireless access points. It is crucial for businesses to address the issue of wireless endpoints separately. But this has traditionally been an expensive and unreliable effort because a wireless endpoint’s signal is not physically connected to a corporate network, meaning that an organisation must search for it, typically by scanning radio waves. The latest patent from Trustwave communicates directly with endpoints and determines whether those endpoints are connected to the network via a cable or a radio.”

Wireless network access is becoming increasingly prevalent, and it is important to address the security thereof to ensure network integrity. With Trustwave NAC from Loophold, organisations have full visibility into every device connected to the wired and wireless networks. This capability provides organisations the ability to execute the appropriate network use policies and to deny access to endpoints that shouldn’t be connecting.

This patented technology compliments the existing Trustwave NAC capability distributed by Loophold, helping to detect rogue wireless access points and help businesses satisfy requirement 11.1 of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) version 1.2.PCI DSS is the international standard payment card industry security requirement for entities that process, transmit and/or store cardholder data, which has been endorsed by all the major card brands – Visa Inc., MasterCard Worldwide, Discover Network, American Express and JCB.By controlling access to network resources and validating endpoint compliance, Trustwave NAC supports compliance with six of the 12 requirements of the PCI DSS.

“Trustwave NAC is an internationally recognised best of breed product, and this new capability to detect wireless endpoints significantly reduces the costs associated with maintaining security around wireless networks. With the addition of this patent we have once again reaffirmed our commitment to providing our customers with only the best in security solutions,” Tassev concludes.