Company Announces Security Commitment; Plans Summer 2000 Security and Privacy
Summit
SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- In a keynote speech at the ninth
annual RSA Conference at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center,
Brian Valentine, senior vice president of Windows(R) at
Microsoft Corp., (Nasdaq: MSFT) announced a new, comprehensive security vision
and commitment to customers. In addition, Valentine outlined Microsoft's
vision to better deliver security-oriented information to a wide range of
customers through a new Web site focused on security and privacy. He also
announced Microsoft's intention to host an industrywide summit this summer to
address key security issues and engage the industry in discussions about the
approach and development of security and privacy solutions.
The RSA Conference, which attracts more than 8,000 attendees, is the
industry's premier data security and cryptography event. This year's event,
described as the largest network security exposition in history, includes
keynote addresses and technical sessions covering a range of issues, from the
latest in cryptographic research to recent implementations of enterprise
security and secure electronic commerce.
"Microsoft has long been committed to keeping our customers' information
safe and secure," Valentine said. "As the marketplace continues to evolve into
an Internet-based economy, we have the opportunity as a leader in the
high-tech industry to reinvent the way we approach and deliver on our security
and privacy commitments for customers. Today's announcements represent
Microsoft's renewed focus on security and privacy. We invite the industry to
join us."
Valentine outlined four key areas covered by Microsoft's security and
privacy vision:
-- Security commitment. Microsoft issued a strong commitment to customers
outlining how the company intends to develop secure products and keep its
customers' information safe and secure. The full text of the commitment can be
found at http://www.microsoft.com/security/.
-- Security and the community. Because security and privacy are
industrywide issues, contributions are needed from the industry's best
innovators. Microsoft announced its intention to host a global security and
privacy summit this summer, which it intends to make an annual event. There, a
broad cross section of representatives from the industry, government, academia
and customer segments will be invited to identify issues and help frame
solutions to today's most pressing security and privacy concerns.
-- Expanded security and privacy resources. During the first half of the
year, Microsoft intends to launch a security and privacy consumer Web site
that will provide tools and resources to consumers on how to keep themselves
safe online and keep their information private. In addition, consumers will be
able to use the site as a reference for information on virtually any security
or privacy issues.
-- Security response process. Microsoft relaunched its Security Response
Center. The center operates seven days a week and responds to every report
received within 24 hours. It also provides feedback on customer-reported
issues, provides patches or work-around solutions, and posts bulletins to the
Web (at http://www.microsoft.com/security/), giving customers the information
they need to protect their information from harm.
Valentine also characterized Microsoft(R) Windows 2000 as the most secure
operating system ever shipped by Microsoft, a key proof point of the company's
renewed focus on delivering secure products. Valentine noted that secure
development processes and security standards and features are woven into the
fabric of Windows 2000, making it a secure operating environment for other
products and partners.
"Our customers conduct e-business with us with the inherent understanding
that we are keeping their information secure. The decision to run our business
on Windows 2000 was based in large part on the security built into the system,
including PKI and Kerberos authentication," said Ian Saggers, director of
global engineering at Credit Suisse First Boston. "Microsoft thought long and
hard on how to deliver secure computing to its customers with Windows 2000,
and it shows. Windows 2000 will help us extend our business across the
Internet securely."
"As Nasdaq expands its operations in Japan and Europe and in other
locations throughout the world, we will continue to rely on systems like
Windows 2000 which maintain the highest levels of security," said Gregor
Bailar, CIO of Nasdaq. "We believe strongly that Windows 2000 will allow
Nasdaq to extend its market operations across the World Wide Web and into new
business ventures created by the Internet."
Windows 2000 joins several other Microsoft products and services, such as
Office 2000, Exchange, Windows for SmartCards and the Passport wallet service,
with enhancements aimed at protecting confidentiality and data integrity.
Office 2000, for example, provides users with enhanced protection, including
support for digitally signed macros, support for S/MIME security in the
Outlook(R) 2000 messaging and collaboration client, and an API that allows
third-party developers to integrate virus-scanning software into Office 2000.
Additional RSA Conference 2000 Announcements
Valentine also announced that Microsoft has worked closely with the U.S.
government in its development of the relaxed encryption export regulations
announced last week. As a result, Windows 2000 will be the first operating
system to be exported with 128-bit encryption to international customers. On
Monday, Jan. 17, Microsoft and CyberSafe Corp. jointly announced from the show
the extension of interoperability between Windows 2000 and Kerberos throughout
heterogeneous environments. Further, Microsoft announced that it has joined
Cisco Systems Inc.'s Security Associates Program.
About Windows 2000
Windows 2000 will enable the next generation of PC computing by providing
customers with the easy way to Internet-enable their business using the
integrated Web application services, increased scalability and
industry-standard security. Windows 2000 will provide a more reliable platform
designed for increased system uptime and a more manageable operating system to
lower desktop management costs, and will offer more centralized management for
servers. In addition, Windows 2000 will enable knowledge workers to take
advantage of new devices.
Availability
General availability of Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server and
Windows 2000 Advanced Server is scheduled to begin Feb. 17, 2000. Windows 2000
Datacenter Server is expected to be available later this year.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software for
personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products
and services designed to empower people through great software -- any time,
any place and on any device.
NOTE: Microsoft, Windows and Outlook are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
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