Microsoft Forefront Unified Access Gateway: Frequently Asked Questions

Forefront Unified Access Gateway is the evolution of proven technologies in the current solution, Intelligent Application Gateway (IAG 2007).This evolution moves our successful product under the Forefront brand and brings new features and functionality to make remote access easier than ever for all users and IT professionals. Forefront UAG provides an easy and secure remote access solution with a focus on application intelligence and granular access control. Forefront UAG is the one solution to fit all of your remote access needs, as it provides centralized management and policy control across all users, devices, and network resources. More details about the features in Forefront UAG will be available with a public beta scheduled for later this calendar year.

Forefront Unified Access Gateway is built on the proven platform of IAG and extends the capabilities of IAG with new features and functionality. Forefront UAG continues Microsoft’s differentiation around application intelligence, endpoint security, granular policy controls, and ease of use. Forefront UAG will be deployed in the same scenarios as IAG as well as some expanded scenarios to be detailed at a later date.

Forefront Unified Access Gateway is being designed to build on the secure remote access capabilities in IAG 2007, extending Microsoft’s focus on application intelligence, security and control, and ease of use:

More details about the features in Forefront UAG will be available with a public beta scheduled for later this calendar year.

More details about the SKUs, pricing, and licensing will be released closer to general availability, but Forefront UAG should follow the same general pricing and licensing model as IAG 2007 today.

Microsoft will provide an easy product and licensing upgrade path from IAG to Forefront Unified Access Gateway. IAG customers who have or buy Microsoft Software Assurance can be confident in receiving strong value with Forefront UAG. Customers may have to upgrade their appliance hardware to a Windows Server 2008, 64-bit compatible version. Microsoft’s OEM partners are confident that the appliances they are selling today will work with Forefront UAG.

Forefront Threat Management Gateway is a next-generation network security product and the future version of the Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server (ISA Server). Forefront TMG will extend the capabilities of ISA Server with new features and security technologies, including multiple threat protection, simplified management, and improved Internet access, and it will support Windows Server 2008.

Forefront Unified Access Gateway is a next-generation secure remote access product and the future version of Microsoft’s Intelligent Application Gateway. Forefront UAG will build on the secure remote access capabilities in IAG 2007, extending Microsoft’s focus on application intelligence, security and control, and ease of use. Forefront UAG will support Windows Server 2008.

Forefront codename “Stirling” is an integrated security system that delivers comprehensive, coordinated protection across endpoints, messaging and collaboration applications, and the network edge that is easier to manage and control.

At release, “Stirling” will include:

We are still evaluating the level of integration Forefront Unified Access Gateway will have with Forefront code name “Stirling,” and we will provide more information about this integration at a later time.

We are updating the naming of the Intelligent Application Gateway for two key reasons:

We plan to announce more details about the features and functionality of Forefront Unified Access Gateway when we release the public beta.

Microsoft’s Intelligent Application Gateway (IAG) 2007 is an enterprise-class secure remote access solution that enables easy access to network applications and resources for all users and all devices, both managed and unmanaged. Microsoft’s IAG 2007 differentiates itself in the marketplace with its granular policy controls and deep application intelligence for both Microsoft and third-party applications, particularly collaboration, e-mail, and other key business productivity applications.

IAG 2007 provides a complete remote access solution that helps organizations solve many critical issues around application access and protection, including: