Appliance Turns USB Keys Into...Network Keys
RedCannon Security announced an appliance on Tuesday that will allow any USB stick to serve as a secure thin-client PC for accessing corporate networks.
The solution, geared at medium-sized businesses, allows any USB key with 256-Mbytes of capacity or above to allow a user to securely access corporate email, connect to a "stealthy web," and run antivirus software and spyware scanners.
"Plug a USB stick into an available computer at home, in a kiosk, or inside a corporate network, and it gives you all the applications you need for remote access," said Vimal Vaidya, the company's founder, chairman and chief executive officer.
RedCannon charges $5,000 for the 1U, Linux-based appliance, including a 100-user license. Additional 100-user licenses cost about $55 per user, up to a maximum of 10,000 users, according to Vaidya. A 50,000-user capability will be added later this year, he said.
The capabilities of the USB keys will differ depending upon the type of key inserted. Vanilla USB keys, which contain flash memory and little else, will create a secure file vault. A U3 key, which contains some embedded intelligence, will allow the creation of the secure vault and the ability to run secure applications. The key creates a secure, undetectable partition on the host PC to store data; on the key's removal, the partition and its data is destroyed. Finally, RedCannon's own USB keys provide even more enhanced functionality, including a secure flash partition. The appliance can also be configured to be used with biometric devices.
