Back Microsoft ISA Server adds to the SharePoint experience

Enterprise Strategy Group (February 21, 2006): Microsoft has announced availability of its Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2006 Beta and its companion, ISA Server 2004 SP2. ISA Server is a security appliance designed to improve security and connectivity between branch offices of an organization. It is specifically designed to enhance the enterprise experience for a Microsoft application infrastructure:

• Embeds the strong security of authenticated SSL connectivity with stateful packet inspection of encrypted content. Extensive logging features add to user accountability when accessing documents.
• Supports the BITS protocol for background transmission of files between remote sites. This conserves precious network bandwidth while providing secure store-and-forward services for documents, application files, and software updates.
• Enables a more seamless enterprise-wide Microsoft SharePoint deployment. Cross-site link translation across the Internet in particular facilitates the transmission of links to shared documents.

Microsoft ISA Server does an excellent job of bolting security into an application performance environment. The true value of ISA Server is its ability to improve corporate productivity by streamlining the sharing of Microsoft documents across the extended enterprise. The fact that ISA Server makes this a secure process as well, is a sign that Microsoft has the right priorities when embedding security.

ESG Take: While ESG would like to see ISA Server more easily assist non-Microsoft applications, that is without coding to an API, there is no question that ISA Server offers features that are very attractive for multi-site organizations that standardize on Microsoft. Corporations with large SharePoint or Exchange deployments will certainly benefit from the presence of ISA Server in their application environment.