As e-commerce becomes more and more important, there has been a corresponding boom in software that secures internet transactions. For example, Hewlett-Packard Co and middleware vendor BEA Systems Inc have collaborated on a platform for secure enterprise resource planning and e-commerce systems. The companies have integrated HP’s Presidium VirtualVault with BEA WebLogic Server and BEA Tuxedo. Developers should be able to use WebLogic server to build secure Java-based web applications to act as applications servers within VirtualVault. HP says it will provide an enablement package at no cost.
Meanwhile ValiCert Inc, a provider of validation authority software, has announced support for the newly formed Indentrus organization, a group of eight financial institutions that has come together to form a global trust enterprise. Through Indentrus, businesses should be able to manage e-commerce risks by way of a trusted relationship with a bank, for example. Corporate partners should be able to eliminate some of the time, cost and complexity associated with building trust relationships around the world. ValiCert claims to incorporate all of the required features and functionality required to address Indentrus’ set of uniform system rules. ValiCert technology works with public key infrastructure (PKI) systems from Baltimore, CertCo, Entegrity, Entrust Technologies, GlobalSign, GTE CyberTrust, IBM, Microsoft, Netscape, Thawte and VeriSign.
Speaking of whom, VeriSign Inc and Check Point Technologies Ltd have agreed to extend an existing alliance. As a result, Check Point’s open public key infrastructure (PKI) initiative should be completed ahead of schedule, while Check Point’s VPN-1 will be made to inter-operate with VeriSign’s OnSite services. As a result, VeriSign OnSite should be able to offer digital certificate support for CheckPoint VPN-1. Finally, Security Dynamics Inc has previewed a new strong authentication product, Ace/Agent. The security component will be offered on the Microsoft Windows 2000 beta 3 release CD-ROM. The product provides two-factor authentication for Windows 2000-based networks and desktops and IIS-based servers.
