Multiplatform VPN

Rational Software uses Ravlin security solution to meet telecommunication needs of travelers, remote offices, and multi­platform developers

Rational Software Corporation (Nasdaq: RATL) is an e­development company that helps organizations develop and deploy software for eBusiness, infrastructure, and devices and embedded systems through a combination of tools, services, and software engineering best practices. Founded in 1981, Rational is one of the world's largest software companies and employs more than 3,900 people in 31 countries around the world. Bill Suarez likes the ease of managing all policies on the network using one management tool, the Ravlin Node Manager. "Using the Ravlin Node Manager, if a six-month contract with a developer ends, all you need is one mouse click to inactivate a policy."

The Situation

Like many of today's high-tech companies, Rational Software must maintain an efficient, secure, cost-effective telecommunications network for its geographically disparate user base that includes travelers, telecommuters, and staff at remote sales and district offices as well as partners, and developers. Rational first tackled the needs of its traveling sales force and other remote employees by offering dial­up service. Not only were the costs high, but the staff support required was also becoming prohibitive. " It took a full­time person to support dial banks and maintain a help desk 24/7," recalls Bill Suarez, Senior Manager of Information Technology for Rational, ``Furthermore, we were not interested in the business of becoming an ISP." The answer was to outsource global dial­up, and Rational chose AT&T as its provider. While a third party dial-based access system addressed the needs of Rational's traveling employees, the telecommunications requirements of other segments of its users went begging. Rational, for instance, needed to establish an encrypted connection for sales offices, smaller offices around the world, and third party partners. It also had to provide network access to a large army of travelers---about 500 in the U.S. alone---many of who are developers.

The Challenge

The true challenge was in connecting developers. This user group works on a multitude of platforms---everything from HP Unix to Linux to Macintosh and Sun Solaris. They desperately needed to connect to the Rational network, but attempts to accommodate them met with limited success. "We might be able to kluge a PPTP connection on a Linux box every now and then, but the bottom line was that IT could not provide that capability well or for everyone who needed it," explains Suarez. Suarez realized that only a Virtual Private Networking (VPN) solution could meet Rational's diverse requirements. He began looking for a solution that could satisfactorily handle net­ to­net connections, accommodate roaming users, support authentication software, and connect across multiple operating systems.

The Solution

Armed with this criteria, Suarez conducted an evaluation process with VPN products from the leading vendors. Out of all the vendors, Ravlin proved to offer the only VPN solution that could connect across different operating systems.

Suarez and his IT team are using a mix of Ravlin hardware and software to meet all of the company's remote networking needs. They first installed three Ravlin® 7150s to create an Internet tunnel. The devices were installed at Rational's dual U.S. headquarters in Lexington, Massachusetts and Cupertino, California, and at the company's international headquarters located in Schipol, Holland. Twelve Ravlin 3200s were placed in sales and district offices throughout the U.S. and Canada along with DSL lines. Many developers are now using the Ravlin 3200 to establish a net­to­net connection as well.

Rational recently began rolling out the Personal Ravlin II to telecommuting employees, including developers working on various operating systems. These users are typically on a non­Windows platforms, have more than one computer in place, and utilize broadband connections. A dozen of the Personal Ravlins are in place, and Suarez hopes to eventually deploy about 200 of these devices. Rational's ``road warriors'' now also have an option other than global dial­up for connecting to the Rational network---Ravlin Soft for single client access. Rational has a license for 200 employees to use the software, which allows mobile users to access a network from anywhere in the world using high speed connectivity. 

Aside from the flexibility offered by the Ravlin product line, Suarez appreciates the fact that all products are fully IPSec compliant, making it rock solid in terms of security. He also likes the ease of managing all policies on the network using one management tool, the Ravlin Node Manager. "Using the Ravlin Node Manager, it's so easy to make or break," he points out. "If a six-month contract with a developer ends, all you need is one mouse click to inactivate a policy."

Ultimately, installing a VPN based on the Ravlin product line has made the busy life of a senior IT manager like Suarez less frenetic . "Working with a 'best of breed' partner like SonicWALL gives you the assurance that the products work and are safe," says Suarez. "This allows my team and I to assume the role of background monitoring as opposed to foreground management---something we all appreciate in our hectic work lives." 

About SonicWALL

SonicWALL with the recent acquisition of RedCreek Communications leads the industry in enabling the world's leading companies to expand the borders of their enterprises without increasing the vulnerability of their information assets. SonicWALL provides integrated hardware and software VPN packages that ensure the privacy of information as it is transmitted across public and private networks and provides managed access to corporate resources. With one of the largest installed customer bases in retail, financial services and technology, the company offers products ranging from pocketsize to rack mount with connections ranging from dial­up and DSL to T1 and high speed OC3 lines.