Software secures wireless LANs.

Press Release Summary:



Scalable, Windows-based Wi-Fi AAA Software provides multi-vendor solution for enterprises looking for over-the-air data encryption and key rotation based on IEEE 802.1x and Wi-Fi Protected Access. It offers secure authentication for users requesting access to WLAN, authorization of specific service access for employees and visitors, tracking of WLAN access and usage, and RADIUS functionality for dial-up, Internet, or VPN-tunnel AAA.



Original Press Release:



Bridgewater Systems Announces Wi-Fi AAA; Provides Enterprise-Level Security, Access Control and Usage Tracking for Wireless LANs



Company Offers 30-Day Free Trial

KANATA, Ontario - Sept. 24, 2003 - Bridgewater Systems(TM), a provider of dynamic IP and data service fulfillment and assurance solutions, today announced Wi-Fi AAA, which is available for a 30-day trial, downloadable from the company's website.

The new offering is targeted at enterprises seeking to centrally secure their wireless LAN (WLAN); control WLAN access for employees, visiting customers and partners; and track usage of WLANs for security, planning and accounting purposes.

According to Karl Toompuu, product manager for Bridgewater Systems, "Wi-Fi AAA is based upon years of Bridgewater Systems' Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) RADIUS experience with some of North America's largest service providers in 3G wireless, DSL and WLAN deployments. It provides the security, scalability, and manageability that enterprise customers need for effective access management and control of their WLAN environments."

Bridgewater Systems has leveraged this expertise to offer enterprise environments a secure Windows-based solution with Active Directory, NT Domains, and Lightweight Directory Application Protocol (LDAP). Wi-Fi AAA complements Wi-Fi Service Manager, Bridgewater Systems' carrier-grade solution for managed wireless LAN services.

Wi-Fi AAA provides a standards-based, multi-vendor solution for enterprises looking for strong over-the-air data encryption and key rotation based on IEEE 802.1x and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). Wi-Fi AAA supports prevalent Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) methods including Cisco Lightweight Extensible Authentication Protocol (LEAP) and Microsoft Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP) that is now widely supported on Microsoft operating systems, eliminating the need for 3rd party clients.

Wi-Fi AAA offers WLAN administrators the following capabilities:

Secure authentication for users requesting access to the WLAN: Administrators can specify an existing corporate identity store where user identities, their credentials and authentication methods are stored. Each user can be appropriately authenticated with no additional administration requirements. Optionally, an internal Wi-Fi AAA directory may be used.

Authorization of specific service access for employees and visitors: Once a user is authenticated, Wi-Fi AAA will authorize specific services based on the users' role (e.g. employee, contractor, visitor).

Tracking of WLAN access and usage: All usage is tracked and captured in accounting records that can be formatted into comprehensive reports, as well as forwarded to a central accounting server for security audits, internal charge-backs, invoicing to visitors, or to provide custom reports for network planning.

Complete RADIUS functionality: Provides standard RADIUS functionality for dial-up, Internet or VPN-tunnel AAA. It also provides manageability through support of standard RADIUS SNMP MIBs.

Secure WLAN Authentication: Includes enhanced WLAN authentication security to ensure that data is strongly protected over the wireless network. Wi-Fi AAA supports all key 802.1x WLAN authentication conforming to WPA, with future support for emerging 802.11i standards.

Flexible user authentication methods: Works with a variety of user identity stores, helping capitalize on existing equipment and operating procedures.

Flexible user privileges: Allows administrators to create a wide variety of user privilege profiles based on day/time access, bandwidth allocation, or access to specific segments of the WLAN. This ensures better control of user access, plus enhances enterprise user satisfaction.

Wi-Fi Visitor Access: Visitors such as customers and partners can be given secure Wi-Fi access via access points that support Virtual LANs (VLANs). Wi-Fi AAA allows administrators to create different access controls for different classes of visitors, while always protecting the enterprise.

Multi-vendor WLAN support: Supports all major 802.1x capable WLAN access points, offering a flexible interface that allows organizations to deploy access point technology that best suits their needs.

Fast and easy to deploy: A Windows-based solution, Wi-Fi AAA provides quick and easy out-of-the-box deployment.

Centralized Administration Center: A browser-based interface gives network administrators the ability to manage authorization rules and access controls, plus create comprehensive usage reports.

Detailed usage reports: Generates accounting records that can be manipulated to create reports, including usage activity, which identifies total network usage by user name, and failed connections by time period and access point.

Scalable, future-proof solution: Supports increased numbers of concurrent sessions, in increments that make good business sense, allowing enterprises to grow their system with their needs. A single server based on a basic platform can authenticate thousands of users per minute.

Pricing/Trial Version
Wi-Fi AAA is available immediately. A 30-day free trial of the product is available at http://bridgewatersystems.com/products/wi-fi_aaa/trial/

About Bridgewater Systems (www.bridgewatersystems.com) Bridgewater Systems provides dynamic IP and data service fulfillment and assurance solutions that enable service providers to generate profits from their networks while enhancing customer loyalty. The modular Bridgewater Systems product suite extracts greater value from existing operations support systems (OSS), business support systems (BSS) and network assets to enable service providers to realize new revenue sources. Unlike traditional OSS vendors, Bridgewater Systems' proven products deliver on-demand dynamic IP and data services, offer extensive revenue capture capabilities, provide out-of-the-box value and can be deployed in weeks -- instead of months.

Bridgewater Systems products are currently deployed by top-tier global service providers such as Verizon Wireless, Bell Mobility, ICG Communications, Covad and Telia. Founded in 1997, Bridgewater Systems is a privately held company.

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