Avenda Systems announced two software releases that will enhance the adoption of Microsoft Network Access Protection (NAP).

The Avenda NAP Agent for Linux extends NAP to network endpoints running the Linux operating system.. Network Access Protection (NAP) technology from Microsoft is a comprehensive infrastructure that allows system administrators to monitor and control end-point access to enterprise networks.

Additionally, Avenda Systems announced customer availability for its Universal System Health Agent (U-SHA). The Avenda U-SHA adds system health checking in conjunction with the most popular Anti-Virus/Anti-Spyware/Anti-Phishing and Firewall products in use. The Avenda U-SHA can also check specified registry key settings and versions of the most used browsers on the market. As an add on to Microsoft's NAP client for both SP3 of the Windows XP operating system and all current versions of the Windows Vista operating system, Avenda is confident that this technology will help quicken NAP adoption and add depth and security to inspections done on all networks using NAP.

Network Access Protection is a policy enforcement technology built into the Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 operating systems that allows customers to protect network assets from unhealthy computers by enforcing compliance with network health policies. Microsoft Network Access Protection technology is publicly available with versions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.

"We are pleased to be able to offer additional value to customers who have made the commitment to Microsoft NAP. We are confident that our U-SHA and NAP Agent for Linux are two parts of a larger solution that customers are seeking to make their end points more secure as NAP continues to be accepted," said Krishna Prabhakar, CEO of Avenda Systems.

"Microsoft is pleased to be working with Avenda Systems to expand the offerings for customers of Windows Server 2008," said Ward Ralston, Group Technical Product Manager for Windows Server Marketing at Microsoft Corp. "Our industry partners play an essential role in ensuring that our customers have the best technology foundation available, and the Universal System Health Agent helps deliver valuable new functionality to our joint customers."