Verizon and Novell have unveiled a new cloud-based security offering that is aimed giving enterprise clients the needed security to run their cloud-based applications.

Verizon and Novell are leveraging each other’s complementary capabilities to deliver Secure Access Services. Verizon is providing the security expertise, infrastructure, management capabilities and portal whiel Novell’s identity and security software offerings provide the technology to power the offering.  

The companies said that Secure Access Services will enable enterprises to tap into centralised management of web access to applications and network services, identity federation and web single sign-on without additional hardware or software, or dedicated IT resources. The service built-in audit features can also help clients ease the burden of compliance reporting related to the access of systems and data.

The identity-as-a-service offering is the first wave of cloud-based offerings the two companies will deliver to large enterprises with 500 or more users with multiple departments, business units and partners who need to automate access controls.

Kerry Bailey, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Verizon, said: “Cloud computing is core to Verizon’s strategy. By working with Novell as part of our overall cloud strategy, we’re providing our clients with a more agile, cost effective and scalable way of securing the enterprise cloud environment so they can reap the full benefits of cloud computing.”

This new offering will initially be available to Verizon and Novell clients based in the US beginning in June.