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This bulletin describes Cisco® Secure Services Client Version 5.1 for Windows Vista, a new release containing the features listed in Table 2.
New Features
Version 5.1 of the Cisco Secure Services Client (SSC) for Windows Vista includes the following new features.
Integrated Cisco IPSec VPN
The SSC can now be configured to automatically start the Cisco IPSec VPN. This improves the end user experience by initiating the VPN application automatically upon establishment of a success network connection without additional user intervention. The feature is accessible by the end user via the GUI (Figure 1), or the IT administrator can select this option in the XML file for enterprisewide deployment. Note that using the integrated Cisco IPSec VPN feature requires that the end station have version 5.0.03.0560 of the IPSec VPN preinstalled.
Figure 1. The Automatic VPN Connection Setting
Secure Services Client Feature Highlights
Here are some highlights of SSC features.
Graphical User Interface
The Cisco Secure Services Client graphical user interface provides a convenient "two-click connect" to office, home, and public wired and wireless networks. This allows end users to connect to the network more easily and eliminates the security concerns of connecting to an open (public) wireless network. End users no longer have to worry about overriding the office profile, while IT administrators are assured that the corporate policies will remain intact.
The user interface provides a comprehensive range of features and is accessible by right-clicking the taskbar icon or using the desktop icon. End users can view the connection status indicator for network name, strength, connection status, and IP address.
Enterprise Client Deployment
The Cisco Secure Services Client enables large-scale enterprise deployment through the use of a single XML configuration file. The deployment file is set up by the IT administrator using any standard XML editor or the Cisco-supplied management utility, a wizard that steps the IT administrator through the policy and configuration settings for users, devices, VPNs, and networks.
The XML configuration file contains:
• Policy restrictions
• Network profiles
• Users file
• Static Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) keys
• Wi-Fi Protected Access-Pre-Shared Keys (WPA-PSK)
• Trusted server validation rules
• Product license
• Integrated VPN policy and configuration settings
Automatic generation of configuration files is enabled by running scripts that configure the XML file elements according to the enterprise policy.
IT staff can use the Cisco-supplied management utility to create an .msi file containing the .exe and the .xml, which can be deployed using standard deployment tools, including Microsoft Active Directory group policy objects (GPOs), Microsoft SMS, and Altiris.
Filtering Unwanted Service Set Identifiers (SSIDs)
The ability to filter unwanted SSID networks also gives IT administrators more control.This feature is useful in an environment where there are multiple wireless networks.
No Wireless When Wired
The SSC helps maintain corporate security policy by not allowing two active network connections. This security feature helps prevent bridging wireless and wired networks, which can compromise network security.
Upgrade Paths and Trial Versions
Cisco Secure Services Client 5.1 for Windows Vista is the first version for the Windows Vista platform. To download a trial version of Version 5.1 for Windows, visit: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps7034/index.html.
Table 1 lists the trial versions that are available for the Cisco Secure Services Client.
Table 1. Trial Versions for Cisco Secure Services Client
Wired and Wireless Versus Wired-Only Feature Comparison
Table 2 provides a comparison between the features available in the fully licensed wired and wireless Cisco Secure Services Client and the basic feature set available with the wired-only nonexpiring license. Note: Support for Novell networks is not included in Version 5.1.
Table 2. Wired and Wireless Versus Wired-Only Feature Set Comparison
Ordering Information
To place an order, you enter the product ID AIR-SSC-VISTA with a quantity of 1 into the form on standard Cisco ordering page. Then you select the option tier appropriate for the number of licenses required. For example, if you need 200 licenses, you should check the option AIR-SSC-VISTA-L1 and enter the quantity 200 in the Quantity field of the option.
Table 3 lists ordering information for Cisco Secure Services Client Version 5.1.
Table 3. Ordering Information for Cisco Secure Services Client 5.1
For More Information
For more information about the Cisco Secure Services Client, visit http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps7034/index.html or contact your local account representative.
For more information about the Cisco Unified Wireless Network framework, visit: http://www.cisco.com/go/unifiedwireless
For more information about the Cisco Wireless LAN Security Solution for large enterprises, visit: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/ns340/ns394/ns348/ns386/networking_solutions_package.html
For more information about the Cisco Self-Defending Network, visit: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/ns340/ns394/ns171/ns413/networking_solutions_package.html
For more information about Network Admission Control, visit: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/ns466/networking_solutions_package.html
For more information about the Cisco Secure Access Control Server for Windows, visit: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/secursw/ps2086/index.html
For more information about Cisco Wireless LAN Services, visit: http://www.cisco.com/go/wirelesslanservices