Blue Coat expands PacketShaper to allow bandwidth control for business applications

Blue Coat Systems has announced the launch of an enhanced version of its PacketShaper appliances.

PacketShaper version 8.5 now uses integrated workflows to enable more detailed application understanding with real-time monitoring, historical reporting and policy-based quality of service controls.

The appliances also provide a new level of tightly integrated application visibility, enhanced application intelligence and policy-based control that together bring application accountability to the enterprise network.

Application accountability enables businesses to better assure the quality of bandwidth-hungry business-critical applications and communication, including telephony and video conferencing, while controlling usage of progressively more taxing recreational applications.

The company claimed that application accountability is now possible due to the combination of existing PacketShaper technology with the addition of integrated workflows. Application visibility is based on greater application intelligence, including understanding application behaviour over a period of time and across a flow of packets rather than basing an assessment on a single packet at a single instance of time.

It can also take into consideration peaks or surges in bandwidth demands, as well as the sustained or average consumption and behaviour. It overcomes the limitations of conventional deep packet inspection.

Steven House, Blue Coat Systems director of product marketing, claimed that version 8.5 evaluates the application accurately.

House said: “This adds to it in a way that lets admin take control and move from a client server atmosphere. How do we determine the application with a high level of clarity, when we have a large quantity of social apps that are now in the same space as business apps, which are making themselves difficult to find?

“We have designed an integrated workplace and can see how a spike is making an impact on an app, so we can flip between different metrics. You can also carve out bandwidth for business critical apps and by taking control of apps admin can shape the network and see what goes on.

“If you need 80kb per second, allow it, there are different policies depending on the traffic. We do have a recommended policy from high to banned, but it is up to the company to determine what apps are being allowed on what networks.”

See original article on scmagazineus.com