Pulse Secure Appliances Available on Microsoft Azure

The company's security-enhancing technology now enables customers to extend secure access to applications, data and other cloud-computing resources. Pulse Secure is bringing its security-enhancing, hybrid IT-enabling access technologies to Microsoft's cloud. On June 19, the San Jose, Calif., security vendor and Juniper Networks spin-off announced the availability of its cloud-based Pulse Secure Appliance (PSA) technology on the Microsoft Azure marketplace, listed as Pulse Connect Secure, allowing customers to extend secure access to applications, data and other cloud-computing resources with minimal disruption to their established IT workflows. PSAs, available as both physical hardware and virtual appliances (PSA-V), provide network access control (NAC), Secure Sockets Layer virtual private network (VPN) and integrated enterprise mobility management (EMM) services, helping organizations keep snoops in the dark while their application, user and device data traverses networks. Embracing Microsoft Azure—Plus Secure already supports leading cloud provider Amazon Web Services (AWS)—aligns with increased business demand for cloud services by smaller organizations, explained Dan Dearing, senior director of product marketing at Pulse Secure, in email comments sent to eWEEK. "Small and medium enterprises are quickly moving to a cloud-first strategy for new services and applications while reserving the traditional data center for legacy, mission critical applications," Dearing stated. "The cloud-based PSA enables customers to adopt this agile strategy without having to make security tradeoffs or disrupt user productivity." Although the move opens up new options for Pulse Secure customers, they won't have any trouble adapting to the new status quo.