MCI buffs up remote access suite

MCI today rounded out its enterprise remote access portfolio with a host of new security and anti-fraud services, paving the way for one last key component for off-site access: secure socket layer.

MCI launched an anti-fraud application called MCI Sheriff, which monitors its clients’ networks for unusual or high-levels of activity over individual remote connections, and after identifying any questionable activity either notifies the appropriate IT official in the company or automatically shuts down the connection. MCI also introduced extensible application protocol (EAP) to its portfolio, allowing corporations to scramble passwords before they traverse the public network, adding an additional security precaution over the VPN. With the addition of new denial of service prevention tools and service level agreements that guarantee protection against attacks, MCI officials said they have now made an already robust security system even stronger.

"We’ve built a lot of components into our remote access platform and we offer a very flexible way of implementing them," said Kelly Brown, senior manager for remote access for services. "Our customers can even block access to entire countries if they choose. That said, while there is a lot of functionality in this offer, I don’t think we’ll ever stop enhancing the platform."

In addition to the security components, MCI made SSL access available to its customers through a partnership with Aventail. The SSL VPN technology allows remote users to access the network through any Web browser, not just on computers equipped with MCI’s customer premise equipment. MCI officials said they have been investigating SSL access for several years, but since permitting SSL opens up the network to literally any computer terminal in the world, the carrier had to ensure its security measures were more than adequate before implementing it.

With SSL, MCI’s portfolio of remote access solutions now spans multiple technologies and formats. Since launching its remote access IP VPN services last year, MCI has introduced W-Fi, DSL, Ethernet and dial-up access products. The carrier also rolled out a platform of desktop security enhancements today that will allow its customers to implement personal firewall and anti-virus clients onto their remote access computers.