-- New Net Services Offering, the Novell Modular Authentication
Service (NMAS) Delivers Single Point of Management for New Class
of Biometric and Strong Authentication Devices
-- 15 Key Security Partners Announce Support for NMAS
-- NMAS Starter Pack Now Available Free on Web
SAN JOSE, Calif., RSA SECURITY CONFERENCE, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ --
Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) today announced new directory-enabled Net security
software for managing user authentication to network resources. The Novell(R)
Modular Authentication Service (NMAS) leverages NDS(R) eDirectory(TM) to
provide a single point of administration and management for an expanded set of
authentication methods to business network resources. For enterprises using
NDS that require the strongest forms of authentication security, Novell
Modular Authentication Service simplifies the integration of the variety of
authentication solutions currently available.
Authentication is the process by which users prove who they are as they
log in to a network. While password authentication combined with sound
password policy measures has traditionally been accepted as a sufficient
authentication method in business networks, the e-business explosion has
caused many businesses to reexamine their network security and in particular,
how users authenticate to the network. Many businesses are now expanding their
network authentication requirements beyond traditional password authentication
to support advanced strong authentication methods such as smart cards,
physical tokens, or biometrics.
"As companies increasingly rely on the Net for e-business the need for
secure authentication is paramount," said Patrick Harr, director of product
management, Novell Inc. "Security is evolving from providing something you
know, such as a password, to something that you are, such as biometrics, or
something you have, in the case of tokens and smart cards. Being able to
support and manage all of these new security devices in a single place with
NMAS demonstrates the value of NDS eDirectory for managing access to your
network services, data and information."
Key Industry Vendors Announce Support for NMAS
Fifteen top security companies also announced support today for the Novell
Modular Authentication Service. Biometric, smart card, and token vendors alike
announced that their specific authentication solutions would support NMAS,
including ActivCard, Arcot Systems, Biometric Access Corporation, Compaq
Computer Corporation, Datakey, Dialog Communication Systems (DCS), Gemplus,
Identix, Keyware Technologies, Protocom, RSA Security, SAFLINK, Schlumberger,
Secure Computing, and VASCO Data Security. Please see
http://www.novell.com/products/nmas for more information.
Novell Modular Authentication Service
NMAS is a unique framework that allows users to authenticate using
different and multiple NDS authentication methods and thus provide flexibility
and advanced security in a network environment. With native integration with
NDS for ease of use NMAS provides support of all authentication types (face,
finger, voice, signature, iris, tokens, smart cards, and passwords) and
delivers the ability to dynamically assign authentication policies to users,
groups, applications and access methods. Novell Modular Authentication Service
will be delivered in two forms:
-- NMAS Starter Pack -- which provides a single point of administration
and supports an expanded set of network authentication methods in NDS.
NMAS Starter Pack allows for any provided single form of user login
method. This means that NDS users can now authenticate using either a
smart card, physical token, biometric, X.509 certificate, or various
forms of passwords.
-- NMAS Enterprise Edition -- (which includes the NMAS Starter Pack)
provides a single, cost-effective point of administration for managing,
grading, and accessing an expanded set of network authentication
methods in NDS. Additionally, the NMAS Enterprise Edition includes:
-- Multi-factor Authentication -- which provides greater network
security by allowing the administrator to set up users to log in
following a sequence of authentication requirements (for example,
requiring a user to provide a fingerprint and insert a smart card).
-- "Graded Authentication" -- which delivers greater network security
by allowing the administrator to establish grades among the
different authentication methods and then grant NDS partition or
volume access based on authentication methods used. "Graded
Authentication" assures that only users completing all required
authentication methods in a login sequence are able to access
confidential or sensitive information.
Pricing and Availability
Licenses for the Novell Modular Authentication Service Starter Pack will
be available for free via download from the Web beginning January 18. Please
visit http://www.novell.com/products/nmas to get started. Licenses for the Novell
Modular Authentication Service Enterprise Edition begin at $995 for a server
plus 5 users and will be available for order at the end of March from Novell
channel partners or via shopnovell at http://www.shopnovell.com.
Novell Modular Authentication Service and Novell Consulting Services
Novell Consulting Services' Rapid Deployment program reduces customers'
deployment time by 30 to 50 percent. Networking consulting experts will
design, plan, pilot and rapidly deploy Novell Modular Authentication Service
and other customized solutions based on NDS in a customer environment, thus
providing immediate business benefits and a competitive advantage from this
technology. This Rapid Deployment Solution is implemented quickly and
optimally the first time, allowing users and network administrators to
immediately become more productive. To order Rapid Deployment Solutions,
select "Engage Consulting" at the Novell Consulting Web site
http://consulting.novell.com
About Novell
Novell, Inc., is the world's leader in supplying Net Services Software
that empowers organizations to tame the explosive demands of e-business and
profit from the limitless opportunities of the digital economy. Novell's
worldwide channel, consulting, developer, education and technical support
programs are the most extensive in the network computing industry.
Net Services Software is a category of software that provides universal
resources and new capabilities to networks of all types -- intranets, the
Internet and extranets -- across all leading operating systems. Net services
include security, authentication, access, directory, identity,
personalization, file, print, management, performance, integration and
application services.
For information on Novell's complete range of products and services,
contact Novell's Customer Response Center at 888-321-4CRC (4272), or visit
Novell's Web site at http://www.novell.com. Press may access Novell
announcements and company information on the World Wide Web at
http://www.novell.com/pressroom . In addition, detailed comparisons between
Novell products and competitive offerings from other vendors are available on
the Web at http://www.novell.com/advantage.
NOTE: Novell and NDS are registered trademarks, and eDirectory is a
trademark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All third-
party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE Novell, Inc.
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http://www.novell.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/100266.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 100266
CONTACT:
Gordon Evans of Novell, Inc., 408-967-6371,
or gmevans@novell.com ; or Devorah Symansky of Porter Novelli
Convergence Group, 415-975-2221, or devorah.symansky@pnicg.com,
for Novell, Inc.
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