Nortel has introduced a mobile environment on a USB memory stick, designed to provide secure access to applications and data for mobile workers.

Secure Portable Office (SPO), available now, is a customisable system that comprises a mobile client stored on a USB memory stick. When inserted into a Windows PC with internet access, the client establishes a VPN connection with an organisation's network, providing secure remote access to applications.

"We have the situation now where any remote worker can use any Windows PC with the USB client, which allows secure access to applications," said Nortel security product manager Vincent Blake.

Although a typical deployment will use a USB memory stick, the client can also be deployed on other types of Flash storage or even an iPod, Blake said. The other half of the solution is a Nortel VPN Gateway 3050 or 3070 network appliance, which SPO is designed to link up with.

When connected to a PC, the client creates an SSL tunnel back to the VPN Gateway and authenticates the user via LDAP or Active Directory. It then examines the endpoint system for running antivirus and firewall applications, and can even check on the patch level of the operating system. This enables IT departments to set policies governing access, according to Blake.

"Customers can choose to halt the connection if the PC has no antivirus protection, or put the user into a sandbox from where they can download one, if necessary," he said.

Once all checks are passed, the user is placed in a virtual desktop environment, which prevents data being downloaded to the endpoint system's hard drive. All data is wiped at the end of the session, leaving nothing behind on the endpoint system.

Using the virtual desktop, users can access web-enabled applications and other resources on their organisation's network.

Nortel can customise SPO to meet each customer's requirements, according to Blake.

"We would go in and find out about the customer's needs and advise on how to architect a solution around their existing domain – we use as much as possible of their existing infrastructure," he said. "We basically provide a one-stop shop."

Several pilot users have been running SPO deployments for several months, including Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust, a hospital specialising in care for women and babies. Here it is used to access and update server-based medical records from patients' homes.

Secure Portable Office costs about £20,00 and £30,00 for a configuration supporting up to 2,00 concurrent users. While the product currently works only with Windows PCs, Linux and Mac OS X versions are planned for the end of the year, Blake said.