Sun Microsystems Inc. on Thursday will announce a broad security initiative that includes two new solutions, a new partner program, consulting services, training and the release of a new cryptographic technology.
The new iForce Perimeter Security solution combines intrusion detection, anti-virus and other functionality and includes software from a wide variety of Suns partners, such as Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., Symantec Corp. and Tripwire Inc.
The second new offering, iForce Secure Web Server, comprises components from Sun, Sanctum Inc., Ubizen NV and PentaSafe Security Technologies Inc.
Sun, based in Santa Clara, Calif., also will announce the release of a new network architecture known as SuperNets. The networks can be built on top of existing corporate infrastructure, and Sun officials said they are designed to do away with the notion of remote access. Using Public Utility Computing, Sun is espousing a model of giving users secure access to their corporate networks and data from anywhere.
The announcements will come at the companys SunNetwork 2002 show in San Francisco.
Sun on Thursday will also make available the source code for its Elliptic Curve Cryptography technology, which it is contributing to the OpenSSL Project. ECC is a type of public-key cryptography that is based on elliptic curve mathematics. Its considered to be faster and more efficient than traditional public-key cryptosystems because it requires less storage and power and is therefore more practical for smaller devices.
The key sizes in ECC systems are about one-eighth the size of those in typical PKI systems. Suns contribution to the OpenSSL Project will include a full-strength ECC library that can be used in applications outside of SSL, officials said.
In addition, Sun will make several smaller announcements, including the establishment of the iForce Security Solutions Program, which gives its partners resources to help sell Sun products and solutions; the creation of the Security Ambassadors group; and its sponsorship of the Security Management Index.
The SMI, created by the Human Firewall Council, is a survey based on an ISO standard that helps customers benchmark their security practices.
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