Gradient Technologies Joins Check Point Software's OPSEC Alliance, Commits to Open Security Solutions
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Gradient's NetCrusader Interoperates Fully with Check Point's FireWall-1 MARLBOROUGH, Mass., May 5, 1997-GRADIENT TECHNOLOGIES Inc. today deepened its commitment to open, enterprise-wide security solutions by joining Check Point Software's OPSEC Alliance, a group of more than 75 vendors fostering interoperability between best-of-class security products. The alliance-which includes leading technology vendors such as Microsoft, Netscape and Intel-covers a broad range of enterprise network security technologies, including authentication, encryption, content security, networking infrastructure and application software. These technologies protect customers from internal and external thefts of data and invasions of privacy. All the alliance members have embraced OPSEC, the Open Platform for Secure Enterprise Connectivity pioneered by the world's leading firewall vendor, Check Point Software Technologies Inc. The interoperability between Gradient's NetCrusader product family and Check PointTM FireWall-1TM through the OPSEC framework means that secure remote procedure calls (RPCs) from authorized NetCrusader users are admitted through the firewall to grant authorized users all the benefits of NetCrusader Distributed Services-including single sign-on, authentication and fine-grained access control for Web, client/server and legacy applications. OPSEC provides developers with an open framework enabling deployment of security technologies from Check Point and third-party vendors through published application programming interfaces (APIs) and support for industry standard protocols. "If you're not an authorized user, Check Point's network security solution does a great job of keeping you out. NetCrusader complements FireWall-1's strong authentication features by providing additional fine-grained access controls to mission-critical applications-down to a field in a database-without requiring additional log-ins or changes in application code," said David Fowler, vice president of sales and marketing at Gradient. "It's critical to interoperate this way with complementary security solutions, and Gradient is committed to extending the NetCrusader family to fully interoperate within the framework of the OPSEC Alliance." "The integration of Gradient's application-level controls into the OPSEC framework is clearly meeting a critical customer requirement for the enterprise," said Asheem Chandna, Check Point Software Technologies, Inc.'s vice president of business development. "Check Point customers will benefit from Gradient's NetCrusader authentication, authorization and data integrity for mission-critical applications." Look for the OPSEC Label OPSEC Alliance partners will receive permission to use the "OPSEC Alliance" logo, indicating that their products can plug into Check Point's FireWall-1 enterprise security solution through the OPSEC framework. Additionally, OPSEC Alliance partners can elect to have their products certified by Check Point, providing a measure of interoperability assurance to customers. Products passing this interoperability testing will receive an "OPSEC certified" designation and logo from Check Point to clearly designate these certified products. The OPSEC Alliance is open to all vendors providing the technology building blocks for enterprise security solutions, including Internet/intranet software and hardware, client/server applications, and enterprise security products like NetCrusader, Gradient's newly announced enterprise security infrastructure. NetCrusader fortifies three key areas of an enterprise-Web-based, client/server, and legacy applications-with strong authentication, fine-grained access control, and protection of confidential information against external and internal security threats. The NetCrusader family includes:
With NetCrusader, organizations can easily integrate multiple authentication mechanisms, data privacy and integrity, fine-grained access control, auditing and management for mission-critical applications throughout the enterprise, from the desktop to the Web to the data center. NetCrusader embraces and extends proven security technologies to provide a higher level of security than point security solutions. It provides variable "fine-grained" access control to internal users and authorized external users. At the same time, NetCrusader significantly reduces costs through simplified security management, the elimination of multiple security models, and rapidly accelerated application development and deployment time. About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. is the global network security software market share leader and inventor of the patented "Stateful Inspection" technology (U.S. Patent No. 5,606,668). According to a December 1996 report by the Yankee Group, the company's flagship product, Check Point FireWall-1, commanded 44 percent of the worldwide firewall market in the first half of 1996. FireWall-1 protects internal and external network communications for thousands of organizations of all sizes. Its products are sold worldwide through OEM partners, distributors, VARs, systems and network integrators and Internet Service Providers. The company has U.S. headquarters in Redwood City, California and international headquarters in Ramat-Gan, Israel. For product information, please visit http://www.checkpoint.com, e-mail info@checkpoint.com, or call (800) 429-4391. About Gradient Gradient Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of security solutions for the enterprise and the emerging Internet/Intranet markets. Gradient's NetCrusader Product Family integrates Web-based, client/server, and legacy applications to provide a complete security solution for the enterprise. Gradient provides products and services to hundreds of Global 2000 companies, universities, and governments around the world, as well as independent software vendors and system vendors such as IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Netscape, Microsoft, NTT, NCR, Apple, Oracle, Sequent, Sybase, NetDynamics, and Siemens-Nixdorf. Gradient is privately held and based in Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA, with worldwide operations and distribution. For information about Gradient, call (508) 624-9600 or visit the Gradient web site at http://www.gradient.com/.
NetCrusader, WebCrusader, and AppCrusader are trademarks, and Gradient is a registered trademark of Gradient Technologies Inc. in the United States and other countries. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 1997 Check Point Software Technologies, Ltd. Check Point, the Check Point logo, Check Point FireWall-1, FireWall-1, FireWall-1 SecuRemote, FireWall-First! OPSEC and INSPECT are trademarks of Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. All other product names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners. |