ZENworks 11 Support Pack 2 Secures Devices From Novell

Novell, Inc. announced the availability of ZENworks 11 Support Pack 2.

This new release includes integrated device management for Mac, and introduces a new product offering with ZENworks Full Disk Encryption (FDE) and two new suites. Novell provides customers with an advantage, allowing them to manage multiple platforms and implement complex security policies from a single console without compromising manageability. ZENworks 11 Support Pack 2 enables customers to lock out threats without shutting down IT access or stifling workforce productivity.

"Today’s organizations face a variety of challenges when it comes to securing sensitive data. It is imperative that endpoint management solutions support strict compliance with regulatory and financial standards and mandates, but also are flexible enough to maintain user productivity – all while not increasing costs," said Eric Varness, vice president of product management and marketing for Novell. "The release of ZENworks 11 Support Pack 2 demonstrates Novell’s commitment to customers by delivering on our promise for more frequent product updates. As we have shown with other recent updates across our product portfolio, Novell is putting an emphasis on engineering excellence and product development to deliver secure and reliable enterprise technology that meets the needs of our customers."

"With close to 2,800 endpoints throughout the city, ensuring security and compliance is a major challenge," said Paul Pedron, Senior Network System Specialist for the City of Fresno, CA. "With Novell ZENworks 11 Support Pack 2, we can easily apply all facets of endpoint management – including asset, configuration, patch management, and selectively, Full Disk Encryption – across our entire IT landscape using a single solution. As a result, our IT department is less fragmented, more productive and able to manage all 2,800 endpoints from anywhere."

According to recent Forrester research, 46 percent of enterprises (companies with more than 1,000 employees) have reported issuing their staff with Macs, an increase of more than half in two years. ZENworks 11 Support Pack 2 provides a holistic approach to supporting Mac devices in the enterprise. With this release, Mac support is provided through Remote Management for Mac, Asset Management for Mac, Mac-OSX Patching and Mac Bundles. It gives organizations simplicity and flexibility for device management across platforms.

With management capabilities including asset, configuration, patch, endpoint security and now Full Disk Encryption, ZENworks 11 Support Pack 2 continually adjusts security settings contingent on location and the role of the user. When an issue arises in one department of an organization, this solution allows IT to manage and protect the organization from security risks without disrupting the workflow of other employees.

New features of ZENworks 11 Support Pack 2:

• ZENworks FDE: Simplifies the deployment and management of FDE, including centralized key management and support for both hardware-based and software-based FDE options.
• Integrated Mac device management: Allows customers to take control of Mac devices, using the same tools used  for their Windows and Linux environments; includes remote control, automated software deployment and patching, and asset management capabilities for Mac devices.
• Novell Endpoint Protection Suite: A security-focused companion suite to the existing Novell Endpoint Lifecycle Management Suite, this new suite includes ZENworks FDE and the ZENworks Endpoint Security Management products, with an optional ZENworks Patch Management subscription – all at a discount on MSRP.
• Novell Total Endpoint Management Suite: A suite that helps the enterprise seamlessly manage workforce productivity and security from a common set of tools; this suite combines the Novell Endpoint Lifecycle Management Suite and the Novell Endpoint Protection Suite into a single-purchase offering.

According to a recent white paper from Enterprise Management Associates, "Organizations must be armed with processes and automation solutions that will deliver the agility and extensibility to maintain performance and reliability without sacrificing cost effectiveness in IT investments."

Steve Brasen, research director at Enterprise Management Associates, expanded on this noting: "Novell ZENworks 11 Support Pack 2 further extends the platform’s extensive management capabilities to provide organizations with an intelligent and streamlined approach for secure, heterogeneous endpoint management."

Availability
Novell ZENworks 11 Support Pack 2 will be available in March 2012. ZENworks Full Disk Encryption will be available for $55 per seat/user. For a limited time only, the Novell Endpoint Protection Suite, which includes FDE and Novell Endpoint Security Management, is being offered for the same price as FDE.