128-Bit Server Certificates Expand Security Options for Open-Source
Apache Web Server
SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- RSA Conference 2000 --
VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN), the leading provider of Internet trust
services, and Covalent Technologies, Inc., the leading provider of Apache Web
server e-commerce solutions, announced today the availability of VeriSign's
128-bit Global Server IDs for Covalent's RavenT SSL product. A VeriSign Global
Server ID enables a Web server to establish 128-bit Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
sessions with the export versions of Web browsers from Microsoft and Netscape
as well as applications such as Microsoft Money. Normally, these browsers
-- in widespread use both domestically and abroad -- are only capable of
establishing 40-bit SSL sessions when communicating with a Web server. A
VeriSign Global Server ID enables export version browsers to establish 128-bit
encrypted SSL sessions which, according to RSA Data Security, would take a
trillion-trillion years to break using today's most sophisticated hacking
techniques.
"We are pleased that our customers can now obtain VeriSign's Global Server
IDs," said Randy Terbush, CEO of Covalent Technologies. "Globally-supported
strong encryption is becoming a necessity for many companies that use the
Internet to transmit secure information over international borders."
Covalent Technologies' flagship SSL product, Raven SSL, provides RSA
licensed cryptography for the popular open-source Apache Web server. Raven SSL
supports more than twenty different UNIX operating systems, including Linux
and Solaris.
"As a leading provider in Apache Web Server Solutions based on RSA
Cryptography, Covalent delivers customers a commercial-grade solution," said
Anil Pereira, vice president of VeriSign's Internet Services Group. "By using
VeriSign's 128-bit Web site certificates with the Raven SSL product, customers
can now enjoy powerful state-of-the-art encryption to deliver secure
transactions across the Internet."
The United States Bureau of Export Administration has eased the
restriction of strong encryption products including Web browsers to foreign
countries. However, until Internet users upgrade current export version
browsers, estimated at over 50% of the current browsers in distribution,
128-bit certificates are necessary to "step up" browser-to-server encryption
for export grade browsers.
Pricing and Availability
The Global Server ID is part of VeriSign's family of Global Site Services,
providing customers with a comprehensive solution for Web site security and
quality-of-service management. VeriSign's Global Site Services start at
$895 and include NetSure warranty coverage from $100K - $250K, a 2-day
delivery guarantee, significant discounts on Web security training, a Web site
security audit by Netcraft and a 30-day Web site performance audit by Keynote
Systems.
VeriSign Global Server IDs are supported by the latest release of
Covalent's Raven SSL with no additional software required. They are available
immediately at http://www.verisign.com/server/prod/index.html.
About Apache Web server software
Apache, a freely available open-source product, is the most popular Web
server software on the Internet today. Introduced in 1995, the Apache HTTP Web
server was developed through the collaborative volunteer efforts of
programmers from around the globe. Apache is now the Web server software of
choice for over 5 million of the world's Web professionals -- approximately
55 percent of the Web server market. (12/99 Netcraft survey
http://www.netcraft.com/survey). Apache's success is a leading example for other
open-source software projects. For more information, see the Apache Software
Foundation's Web site at http://www.apache.org.
About Covalent Technologies
Founded in 1994, Covalent Technologies is the leader in e-commerce
solutions and secured data applications for the Apache Web server platform.
Covalent develops commercial software enhancements for Apache and offers full
commercial support for the Apache Web server. On December 16, 1999, Covalent
announced that it received $5 million in first round funding led by H&Q
Venture Associates, LLC, with investments from affiliated funds at Adobe
Systems Inc. and Texas Instruments. The funding will help develop new and
innovative commercial products for the Apache Web server. Recently, Covalent
has been the first to market several new products, including the Raven
SDI-2000 encryption appliance and the Apache 1stT full commercial support
plans for the Apache platform.
A wide-range of customers, including AT&T, AMD, DigitalThink, Enterprise
Rent-A-Car, Federal Express, Harvard University, Hewlett Packard, Lucent,
NASA and Verio, have selected Covalent's products. More information about
Covalent's products and services is available by calling 800-444-1935 or
visiting http://www.covalent.net.
About VeriSign
VeriSign, Inc. is the leading provider of Internet trust services
-- including authentication, validation and payment -- needed by Web sites,
enterprises and e-commerce service providers to conduct trusted and secure
electronic commerce and communications over IP networks. VeriSign's trust
services for Web sites, developers and individuals are available through
http://www.verisign.com and through a growing number of ISPs and Web hosting
companies. The company's digital certificate services for enterprises and
electronic commerce service providers are available through regional account
representatives, resellers, and global affiliates.
For specifics about VeriSign's Global Server IDs and Global Site Services,
see http://www.verisign.com/server/rsc/index.html.
NOTE: VeriSign is a registered trademark exclusively licensed to
VeriSign, Inc. Raven and the Raven logo are trademarks of Covalent
Technologies, Inc. All other products, services, and company names mentioned
are trademarks of their respective companies.
This release contains forward-looking statements relating to the
development of products and services and regulation of the export of
encryption products and services and other matters. These statements are
subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those projected. The words "believe," "expect,"
"intend," "anticipate," variations of such words, and similar expressions
identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that the
statement is not forward-looking. These statements are not guarantees of
future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and
assumptions that are difficult to predict. Factors that could affect the
actual results include the progress and costs of the development of products
and services and the timing of market acceptance of those products and
services. A more detailed description of certain factors that could affect
actual results include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the
prospectus for VeriSign's follow-on offering dated January 26, 1999 and in
VeriSign's reports filed with the SEC. Neither Covalent Technologies nor
VeriSign assumes any obligation to update the forward-looking information
contained in this press release.
SOURCE VeriSign, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.verisign.com
CONTACT:
Rob Kay of Covalent Technologies,
808-539-3627, or press@covalent.net; or Jeff Wenker of Edelman
Public Relations Worldwide, 650-429-2768, or
jeff_wenker@edelman.com, for VeriSign, Inc.
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