Columbitech Mobile VPN for Mac OS, iOS, Android and Windows

Mobile Security in Education

Columbitech Mobile VPN

Mobile Security in Education

many are student-owned devices. With as many as 50,000 users spread across multiple satellite campuses, deployment and support are additional key issues.

Multi-platform support for BYODColumbitech Mobile VPN is a security software solution developed especially for wireless networks. It creates a secure tunnel over the Internet, so both remote users and users at satellite campuses can securely access the network resources as if they were on the main campus. With support for multiple operating systems, including Windows, Macintosh, Android, and Linux, Columbitech Mobile VPN is designed to secure the diverse range of student-owned devices. It can also be deployed as a site-to-site VPN to connect several satellite campuses on one large network.

FIPS-validated encryptionColumbitech Mobile VPN uses FIPS 140-2-validated end-to-end encryption to protect data from eavesdropping. It supports advanced two-factor

Mobile access to the network is becoming increasingly important in the world of education. Students, professors, educators, and administrators rely on wireless networks to access information on the campus data network. Mobile technologies allow classrooms to expand beyond their walls, thus making education available to a larger audience. In addition, students can learn and study whenever and wherever they want, and faculty and staff members are not tied to their desks anymore.

Mobile security is a challengeEducational institutions handle large amounts of sensitive and private information, including students’ financial information, Social Security numbers and educational records. As a consequence, IT administrators are challenged with how to secure wirelessly transmitted data and protect the information from unauthorized access.

Device diversityYet another challenge is how to support a myriad of computers and operating systems, of which

* The Columbitech FIPS 140-2

certificate can be found on the

NIST website under certificate

number #307.

and multifactor authentication with single sign-on to ensure that only authorized users are granted access to the campus network. In addition, Columbitech Mobile VPN provides integrity monitoring (SHA-1) of all data in motion as well as support for network access control (NAC)for enforcement of IT policies, which are critical components in a BYOD scenario.

Reliable and persistent connectivityColumbitech Mobile VPN addresses the unique challenges of a wireless network, including interference, coverage gaps, and performance. It supports session persistence and creates a persistent connection between the mobile device and the server as students, faculty, staff, and administrators move around on and off campus, switch networks, or temporarily lose coverage. The mobile VPN automatically reestablishes the connection to prevent loss of data and to prevent users from having to reauthenticate and restart applications once the connection is reestablished. Advanced data compression provides up to 100 percent faster throughput compared to SSL and IPSec VPNs. This improves the application performance in networks with limited bandwidth or during peak hours.

Software-based securityThe Columbitech Mobile VPN solution is client and server-based VPN software and does not require any additional hardware. The mobile VPN software for Windows and Android gets installed on the mobile device and creates an encrypted tunnel for all Internet traffic. The mobile VPN client for iOS works differently and is built into a secure web browser. It functions as a secure container that users are required to use to access resources on the campus network. The Columbitech Mobile VPN is available as a software development kit for integration with mobile iOS applications as well as other platforms.

Cloud-based or on premisesThe Columbitech Mobile VPN Server supports virtualization and can be installed on a server computer on campus but is also available as a cloud-based service, where the server is hosted and managed off campus.

Mobile devices using Android or iOS are configured by simply scanning a QR code.

The VPN server can handle up to 10,000 concurrent users and it is possible to cluster as many as 255 mobile VPN servers in one server group. Columbitech offers a Gatekeeper that further strengthens the protection as well as handles load balancing and failover between the VPN servers in larger deployments.

SDK for app integration

With Columbitech’s software development kit (SDK), the mobile VPN features can easily be integrated into any mobile application used to access information on the corporate network.

Easy deployment and configurationColumbitech Mobile VPN leverages existing tools for deploying software such as Windows MSI packages or leading mobile device management solutions. It also provides built-in support for version updates and distribution of security credentials such as digital certificates. Mobile devices using Android or iOS operating systems are easy to deploy directly from the iTunes App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) and are configured by simply scanning a QR code.

The software is licensed per user or under a software-as-a-service model with monthly licensing.

Columbitech Mobile VPN for Mac OS, iOS, Android and Windows

©2013 Columbitech, Inc. All rights reserved.Columbitech, Inc. | New York | Stockholm

T: +1 866-855-1874 | info@columbitech.com | www.columbitech.com

About Columbitech

Columbitech protects the entire workforce with one FIPS-validated VPN solution. With more than two million users, customers include three of the top 10 U.S. retailers, public safety agencies, telecom pro-viders and U.S. military branches. Columbitech is privately held, with offices in Stockholm and New York. Vist www.columbitech.com for more information.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONCLIENT SUPPORT

Apple iOS 5.0 and up

Apple Mac OS Snow Leopard 10.6 and up

Android 4.0 and up

Android 2.2/2.3 (rooted)

Windows XP/Vista/7/8

Windows Mobile 2002/2003/5.x/6.x

Windows CE 3.x/4.x/5.x

MS-DOS and DR-DOS

Embedded systems

For any other platforms, the Columbitech embedded SDK can be

used to create a custom VPN client.

SERVER SUPPORT

Windows 2003/2008/2012

Linux (kernel 2.6.8 or higher)

NETWORKS

Ethernet (fixed)

Wi-Fi (private and public)

Mesh networks

Cellular networks (WiMAX, 2G, 3G, and 4G)

Dial-up

Satellite

ENCRYPTION

Up to 256-bit AES encryption (FIPS 140-2 validated)

AUTHENTICATION

Client certificates (PKI x.509)

Windows Active Directory

Common access cards

Smart cards

RSA SecurID

Biometrics

Radius

Google authenticator

Verizon Universal Identity Services (UIS)

SMS