Q: How does standardizing vendor network access with SecureLink Enterprise VSN benefit me?
A: SecureLink Enterprise VSN reduces labor associated with managing vendor connectivity while strengthening security and delivering a detailed audit of vendor network activity. Standardizing on how vendors connect to your network allows you to eliminate vendor VPN accounts, site to site networks, modems, key fobs, holes in firewalls and vendor proprietary solutions. SecureLink Enterprise VSN is easy to deploy, easy to use and provides tight security and detailed audit with less effort than other methodologies.

Q: What other customers are using SecureLink VSN?
A: More than 10,000 organizations rely on SecureLink VSN for support of their enterprise software applications. SecureLink VSN has been reviewed, approved, and is in use by companies in high-security industries, including healthcare, financial services, government, life science, manufacturing and other secure industries.

Q: How is SecureLink Enterprise VSN different from using our VPN or a site to site network?
A: SecureLink Enterprise VSN has unique features required for 3rd party access, including 3rd party remote authentication, super granular access controls, detailed audit, zero remote client install and integration with support ticketing systems. The end result is that SecureLink Enterprise VSN requires less effort to set up and maintain, has better audit and tighter security.

Q: Why is this better than using desktop-sharing?
A: Desktop-sharing may be an adequate choice for supporting end-user, desktop applications but is not in any way designed for the support of enterprise applications in secure environments. Using desktop sharing, an individual surrenders control of their machine and all the rights and permissions associated with their account, creating serious security and audit control issues. SecureLink Enterprise VSN allows you to grant access to everything the vendor rep needs, and nothing else.

Q: Why is this better than using my vendors' proprietary connectivity solutions?
A: Some vendors have tried to standardize on customer connectivity solutions, including desktop sharing, home-grown networking solutions and even SecureLink VSN. While all have their advantages and disadvantages.

Q: What level of reporting do we get?
A: SecureLink Enterprise VSN captures session details at a very granular level, including reports of exactly which individual vendor rep accessed the network and what they did during the session. This includes command line and file level audit detail.

Q: How long does it take to implement SecureLink Enterprise VSN?
A: SecureLink Enterprise VSN can be typically be deployed in two days. We need about two hours of IT staff time to set up the SecureLink Enterprise VSN server, then one day of training and deployment. After one day of training, you will be able to set up a new vendor in about 15 minutes.

Q: Will my vendors accept using SecureLink Enterprise VSN?
A: Almost all vendors will welcome the opportunity to work with SecureLink Enterprise VSN, as it gives them rapid, native access to the services they require to perform their job. Since only a browser is required remotely, there is no need for the vendor rep to involve IT departments or drive to the office in the middle of the night to access a VPN machine. Many leading enterprise software vendors have already standardized on SecureLink VSN themselves as their standard for customer connectivity.

Q: How does a vendor rep access our network?
A: Each vendor rep must have an individual account tied to their e-mail address and an invitation from you to access your network. At your discretion, you may invite a vendor rep to access your network one time, or any time over a defined period. Since each session requires authentication with a unique session key that's e-mailed to the individual vendor rep, you are assured authentication without the labor normally associated with managing a vendor VPN account.

Q: What level of access is granted to the vendor?
A: You are always in complete control. Each application is configured at the port level with exactly the services a vendor rep requires and nothing else. You may enable access to any TCP-based service, including FTP, telnet, desktop sharing, RDP, Terminal Services, pcAnywhere, databases, web servers, etc.

Q: What other software is required for the vendor?
A: The vendor only needs a browser and access to their e-mail.