Proxy Networks, Inc.

Proxy Networks, Inc. is a provider of Remote Desktop Software and remote collaboration software designed for help desk technicians, network administrators, and IT managers. Proxy Networks software has been used by US government agencies, multinational corporations, and is distributed worldwide by vendors; the company’s remote access, remote control, and remote management tools are especially geared towards SMBs and enterprises in the legal, healthcare,education, government, financial services, and professional services sectors. Proxy Networks produces the PROXY Pro software series, which consists of four editions.^[2] The company was formed in 2006 by a venture capital-backed acquisition from Juniper Networks. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Proxy Networks is led by CEO Andy Kim.

Software Editions

The Proxy PRO remote control software^[2] series is composed of four editions:

1. The Workstation Edition, which provides remote desktop access directly from one computer to another in peer-to-peer fashion. It consists of the PROXY Pro Master (viewer) and the PROXY Pro Host (client) and the PROXY Pro Deployment Tool,
2. The Gateway Edition, which uses a centralized server to connect desktops and servers inside and outside of a corporate network, leveraging the same PROXY Pro Master (viewer) and PROXY Pro Host (client) in the Workstation Edition.
3. The Private Cloud Edition utilizes the same PROXY Pro Master, PROXY Pro Host, PROXY Pro Gateway and adds the PROXY Pro Web Console allowing for access and management of Hosts from any machine with a browser. It is an on-premise remote desktop software solution for remote support and collaboration with configurable service management tools and real-time reporting and historical connection reporting.
4. The Proxy.me Edition, which is a hosted version of the Private Cloud Edition and features entirely web-based remote access, remote control andremote management of desktops, laptops, servers and virtual desktops;

The most current software release is PROXY Pro 8.10.2, first posted for availability as of 2/4/2015.

Software components

The Proxy PRO remote control software^[2] line consists of the following components:

1. The PROXY Pro Master is the viewer used to launch remote control connections to computers running the PROXY Pro Host software. Included in all editions.
2. The PROXY Pro Host is the client-side application that allows PROXY Pro Master users to connect. The Host is generally deployed either by an IT department's tools or via the PROXY Pro Deployment Tool. The Host software runs as a service in Windows and is designed to be "always on" and can be configured for unattended access. Included in all editions.
3. The PROXY Pro Host on Demand, which is a temporary version of the PROXY Pro Host that gets launched via the "Share my Desktop" button on the PROXY Pro Web Console's landing page. The Host runs as either a process or a service, and is designed for temporary use as it can be removed at any time. Included in the Private Cloud Edition.
4. The PROXY Pro Gateway component acts as the centralized "hub" in a "hub-and-spoke" connectivity model. Installed on a server within a customer's environment, it negotiates connections between PROXY Pro Master users and machines running the PROXY Pro Host client. Included in the Gateway Edition and the Private Cloud Edition.
5. The PROXY Pro Web Console adds to the Gateway Edition a web console allowing for connectivity and management of Hosts from a browser, and the PROXY Pro Host on Demand which is a temporary Proxy Host on a remote machine that can be removed anytime. Included in the Private Cloud Edition.
6. The PROXY Pro Deployment Tool is designed to allow IT administrators to define settings templates for the PROXY Pro Host and push the Host clients with those settings. Also allows for management of Host settings such as updating them after they have been deployed. Included in all editions.

The most current software release is PROXY Pro 8.10.2, first posted for availability as of 2/4/2015.

Software Compatibility

All editions of the PROXY Pro series are compatible with the following operating systems,^[3] including:

• GNU/Linux (running VNC server);
• Mac OS X for Client Only;
• Microsoft Windows, including.[5]
  • Windows XP
  • Windows Vista
  • Windows 7
  • Windows 8
  • Windows 8.1
  • Windows Server 2003
  • Windows Server 2008
  • Windows Server 2008 R2
  • Windows Server 2012 R2
  • Windows Server 2012 R2
  • Note: Limited Support for Windows Embedded

It is not necessary for the target operating system to be the same as the operating system of the operator; however, the target machine must run a VNC server when connecting to Linux.

Company history

Proxy Networks’ technology was originally developed by Funk Software, which introduced the first remote desktop support software for the Windows 3.1 platform circa 1993.

In late 2005, Funk Software was taken over by Juniper Networks.^[4]

In July 2006, with financial backing from de Anda Capital LLC (a private equity firm with investments in companies such as Asurion and ServiceSource), newly incorporated Proxy Networks Inc. acquired the remote desktop software product line from Juniper Networks^[5] for an undisclosed amount.^[6]

At this time the Proxy Networks team consisted of ten employees, and was headed by CEO Andy Kim. According to Kim, at the time of the acquisition, the proprietary software (later renamed “Proxy PRO”) was already installed at hundreds of companies^[7] such as Boeing Co., Fidelity Investments and the U.S. Secret Service.

Regarding the acquisition, Juniper VP Joe Ryan commented that the remote desktop software was “not in Juniper’s area of focus,” and that Juniper would concentrate more on network security than management of computers and servers.^[8]

Product Distribution

Proxy Networks' products are sold directly to customers in North America. They are sold through third-party vendors in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South America, and Latin America.

Clients

The following companies and organizations are among those that have used Proxy Pro remote desktop software.^[9]

• Boeing Co.
• Fidelity Investments
• U.S. Secret Service
• Kisco Senior Living^[10]
• U.S. Department of the Interior
• The State of Minnesota
• The State of North Dakota
• The State of South Dakota

References