Cisco VPN Client For Mac

Cisco VPN Client is a straightforward software solution that enables you to establish connections between your computer and a Virtual Private Network (VPN) using a Cisco VPN device.

In other words, the Cisco VPN Client employs a Cisco VPN device (VPN 3000 Series Concentrators, Cisco IOS devices with Easy VPN server support and Cisco PIX Firewall Series) in order to create a tunnel (secure connection) between your computer and a VPN.

The tunneling protocols used by the client are highly secure: Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) and Internet Key Exchange (IKE). Moreover, the user authentication can also be established in several ways: using Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS), the RSA SecurID / SoftID, via the VPN device's database, or through the NT Domain (for Windows NT).

If you're a system administrator who has already set up the client using digital certificates, you can obtain a certificate by enrolling with a Certificate Authority (CA). You can do this by registering your certificate via the PKI framework and get approval from the CA.

Although its user interface is simple and intuitive, Cisco VPN Client comes with numerous features. Some of the more important are the ability to import a configuration file, event logging, NAT transparency, dynamic DNS support, alerts (delete with reason) and local LAN access.

The Cisco VPN Client application allows you to operate it in two modes: simple and advanced. You can use the simple mode if you only want to establish a connection to a VPN device using the default connection entry.

The advanced mode, of course, offers you a wide array of options and configuration settings such as managing certificates, setting connection entries, managing event logging, and more.

In addition to the main window, the client provides a status bar menu with quick access to the app's preferences and options, and to an option hide the client or other windows.

To conclude, Cisco VPN Client is a complete solution for establishing connections to virtual private networks in your enterprise. Even though the application is no longer sold and has been discontinued in July 2012, it's still a reliable utility for mass deployments of VPN connections.