Funkwerk Enterprise Communications have completely upgraded their IPSec Client. The software is used by external employees on their PCs or laptops and provides a secure access to the corporate network. With new functions, such as the Budget Manager, the extended certificate configuration, and the improved connection diagnosis, Funkwerk Enterprise Communications GmbH, a company of Funkwerk AG, offers the user VPN connections to the company headquarters, which are protected via IPSec. They can be set up from the home office, the subsidiary, or while traveling in an even more convenient and easy way.

The new Secure IPSec Client includes a Budget Manager, which monitors the costs arising for UMTS, GPRS, or WLAN connections. The IPSec client warns the user in good time that a preconfigured time period or volume is running out. At the same time, the Budget Manager is able to prevent the system from switching automatically over to other networks, for instance to avoid higher fees charged for roaming connections.

Another new feature is the certificate configuration. For various connections, VPN profiles can now be stored with different certificates. Certificates ensure the confidentiality of the transferred information, the authenticity of the communication partners, and the integrity of the data for VPN connections. They are stored for this purpose at the so-called "Certification Authorities" (CAs), from where they can be queried if connections are to be set up for interconnected systems. Subscribers are, thus, also able to exchange data with "unknown persons" whose keys are not available. This is not possible in a VPN working with so-called pre-shared keys.
For the purpose of faster fault clearance in the case of connection problems, Funkwerk has moreover extended the diagnosis function in the current IPSec client. In a client overview, helpdesk staff is now shown the current version, the VPN User ID and the connection status, as well as the current certificate configuration including the validity of the certificates. For a faster removal of connection problems, the output of the log and error reports is displayed in different font colors. Errors are signaled by red font, while unproblematic processes are shown in green. Moreover, all logs can simply be copied and inserted into another document, for instance an e-mail.

The Secure IPSec Client of Funkwerk Enterprise Communications works with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection. In this configuration, it is the tunnel end point on the client computer. Its counterpart in the company headquarters usually is the router. The Secure IPSec Client permits the dial-in via different network types, such as LAN, Wireless LAN, DSL, ISDN, GSM, GPRS, or UMTS. The auto-detection of hotspots enables external employees to log on to a publicly accessible WLAN in a fast and secure mode while they are traveling. The firewall integrated into the IPSec Client ensures that only those ports are opened which are required to set up the WLAN connection.

The Secure IPSec Client of Funkwerk Enterprise Communications is now available as download on the Web site of Funkwerk Enterprise Communications under http://www.funkwerk-ec.com. It can be purchased for Euro 89 per license (recommended retail price including V.A.T.).