Microsoft Delivers Vision at RSA Conference 2000 For Empowering Safe, Secure Computing

SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 18, 2000 — In a keynote speech at the ninth annual RSA Conference at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, Brian Valentine, senior vice president of Windows® at Microsoft Corp., 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® 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® 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 (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) 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.

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