Networking company Extreme Networks Inc. today announced new features within ExtremeCloud Universal ZTNA, the company’s identity-based network access solution that simplifies and strengthens network security across remote and campus environments.

The new features include enhanced capabilities to reduce shadow IT risks by automating the identification of private applications and tracking user access. The enhancements allow information technology teams to manage application usage more efficiently, limit unauthorized access to noncompliant tools, and enforce a consistent security policy. A new feature to add or deny applications with a single click streamlines policy enforcement and improves overall network observability.

ExtremeCloud Universal ZTNA also now slashes troubleshooting time by allowing teams to adjust policies and address identity-level access issues directly from the dashboard, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual interventions. The net result is that the resolution of access issues across the network is speeded up, while at the same time, organizations can maintain a zero-trust security posture for all users, applications and devices.

Universal ZTNA also now supports automated policy enforcement across the entire Extreme Networks portfolio, including third-party switches and access points. According to the company, the flexibility allows organizations to manage security policies consistently across hybrid network environments, whether users are on-site or working remotely. An integration with ExtremeCloud IQ further simplifies the management process for IT teams.

“Organizations must support hybrid work models and have struggled with the complexity caused by networking and security being siloed,” said David Nuti, head of security strategy at Extreme Networks. “Policies are cluttered and inconsistent. Licensing is complicated. With new devices and users, risk increases daily. To make a dent in this complexity, organizations are moving away from legacy VPN and firewall solutions.”

Extreme Networks was previously in the news in July when it announced it had teamed up with Intel Corp.‘s Connectivity Analytics Program to enhance its AI Expert solution. The linkup delivered enhancements that involved using data from networks via Extreme and PCs with Intel data and combining that with generative artificial intelligence and the Intel Connectivity Analytics software development kit, with a goal to make networks more intelligent, faster and more reliable.

Photo: Extreme Networks