Windows 8 developers that need to support VPN access will find NCP’s new version of its VPN client has some useful bells and whistles.
German firm NCP Engineering has upgraded its VPN client to support Windows 8, and has added a host of features to make it easier for users to connect and stay connected across different networks.
The new version of NCP’s Secure Entry Client (Version 9.31) is available as a universal client for Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP and can connect to a wide range of VPN gateways, such as those from Juniper, Check Point, Cisco, NetGear and SonicWALL.
Version 9.31 includes a new Access Point Name (APN) management feature that eliminates the need for end users to configure the mobile access point from which they access the Internet.
Previously users who switched between mobile networks had to tweak these APN settings manually. Now NCP's IPSec VPN software automatically prompts the driver to search for and configure the APN via the NetID of the SIM card.
The software also boasts “an intuitive graphical user interface that is simple enough for any end user to understand and control, and to allow for safe and secure connections to corporate networks with a single click - and without needing to worry about firewall settings, device compatibility, connection negotiation or policy requirements.”
NCP’s Secure Entry Client also includes a seamless roaming feature enabling it to automatically change between networks, eg LAN, WiFi and 3/4G, during a session and to dynamically redirect the VPN tunnel, without the user even noticing.
Its "Friendly Net Detection" feature automatically determines whether or not a network is secure and activates the appropriate firewall rules accordingly.
It also, according to NCP is very easy to use from both the user’s and the administrator’s perspective. A graphical, intuitive user interface provides information on all connection and security states and detailed log information makes for effective assistance from the help desk.
NCP says this high level of usability means less time spent on training, less documentation and fewer support calls. And an integrated budget manager guarantees cost transparency because a volume or time budget or the use of a specific provider can be set and monitored.
More: Windows 8 Development News
