Sierra Wireless, provider of integrated device-to-cloud solutions for the IoT, has announced in a recent release its upcoming AirLink Connection Manager (ACM) 2.0 VPN appliance for vehicle networking use cases. It reportedly will be compatible with all AirLink routers and gateways, and optimized for the AirLink MG90 multi-network vehicle router to provide secure FIPS 140-2 compliant, always-on VPN connectivity.
Unlike traditional VPN solutions, which disconnect VPN connections when roaming between mobile networks, Sierra said ACM is designed to maintain VPN tunnels and connectivity across networks in order to ensure mission-critical applications are uninterrupted and end users have continuous, reliable connectivity. In addition, ACM 2.0, when coupled with AirLink MG90, can provide law enforcement agencies with a solution that extends the enterprise network to the vehicle and meets Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) requirements to connect to secure databases.
“We are a trusted partner to more than half of the largest police departments in the U.S. and Canada who rely on AirLink networking solutions in their cruisers and incident response vehicles,” said Jason Krause, SVP and GM, Enterprise Solutions, Sierra Wireless. “ACM 2.0 is a turnkey solution that ensures field officers are always connected with the highest level of security, and it is much more cost-effective and easy to deploy than existing VPN solutions.”
The new product reportedly eliminates the need for fixed IP addresses, certificates or special client software on remote devices, which simplifies deployments and significantly reduces the cost of data security. ACM 2.0 is also compatible with the NCP VPN Client for Windows, allowing agencies to extend the same VPN security to Windows laptops for officers and employees outside of the vehicle area network. AirLink MG90 multi-network vehicle routers are optimized for demanding wireless applications, including public safety, field services and transit.
The AirLink Connection Manager (ACM) is now available, and the ACM 2.0 release will be available in November.
Ken Briodagh is a writer and editor with more than a decade of experience under his belt. He is in love with technology and if he had his druthers would beta test everything from shoe phones to flying cars.Edited by
Ken Briodagh