iPass issues revamped interface

Virtual network operator iPass has culminated months of development work and input from customers to introduce a new, redesigned version of its iPassConnect service interface for corporate users.

The new service interface, iPassConnect 3.0, effectively changes how customers use iPass to securely access corporate resources from remote locations such as Wi-Fi hot spots.

“Before we had access technology tabs, and users would choose how to connect based on that, but now it is a geographic approach,” said Jon Russo, vice president of marketing at iPass. “You just have to know your location. There is no need to configure WEP or a new SSID when you select a hot spot, and if Wi-Fi is not available, the interface will give you the next alternative access technology.”

That enhancement is just one new wrinkle in the service interface that will provide new benefits to the CIOs and IT managers of iPass’ corporate clients. The interface upgrade also better positions CIOs to migrate to next-generation security protocols, such as 802.1x, LEAP and AES, among others. Also, the new version allows administrators more control over user authentication and rogue detection, with the ability to easily tear down unauthorized user sessions.

Notable among the security features of the new service interface is use of an extra dose of encryption technology, the proprietary iPass Secure End-to-end Encrypted Log-in (iSEEL). The solution combines a unique session-specific I.D. with public key cryptography to protect a user password through authentication on the iPass virtual network and into the corporate enterprise. It can be used under any access technology.

The iPassConnect 3.0 interface will emerge from beta testing this month, and will be commercially available in July. Russo said the company started working on it 18 months ago by talking to 37 different corporate customers in four countries about enhancements they wanted to see in iPass’ service.