Rounding out this year's winner's circle in the security category is another patch management and scanning tool: PatchLink Update 6 from PatchLink Corp.

PatchLink Update 6, the Bronze Award winner, is an upgrade to PatchLink's evergreen patch and vulnerability management software. The Internet-based PatchLink Update 6 scans networks for security holes and works with all Microsoft, AIX, HP-UX, Solaris, Linux, Novell NetWare and MacOS X operating systems.

Judges took note of PatchLink Update's new features, which include automatic computer discovery within an IP address range, domain or organization group; a patch management desktop deployment manager that offers patch information and install options; WAN patch distribution for networks with low bandwidth or heavy-use connections, and a tool that automatically detects mobile computers and responds accordingly.

Other enhancements that the judges said added value were capabilities for conflict resolution and integrity checking, enhanced filtering and searching based on PatchLink's patch repository and an open API interface that works with third-party scanners and network-attached devices.

PatchLink Update 6 costs $1,495 initially for the server component, and is $18 per node per year for Windows users.

Robyn Lorusso, editor