REDMOND, WASH., AND CLEARWATER, FLA., SEPT. 19, 2001 — Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) and OpenNetwork Technologies Inc. today reported that enterprises using the Microsoft® Windows®
2000 Server’s Active Directory (TM) service and OpenNetwork’s DirectorySmart (TM) on Compaq ProLiant (TM) ML570 servers to manage user access to their extranets can support 15 million users for as low as 1.8 cents per user annually.
The finding, based on the certified results of Web access control and identity-management tests performed by independent laboratory Mindcraft Inc., shows that enterprises using the Active Directory and DirectorySmart Web access solution can secure their extranets and scale to support millions of users for the lowest total cost of ownership in the industry.
“Today’s corporate extranet demands a high-performance solution that can easily adapt to technology changes while still providing reliability, security and manageability,” said Bruce Weiner, president of Mindcraft. “As companies in today’s economic environment demand the highest return on investment, it makes sense to spend as little as 1.8 cents per user per year to ensure the security of a corporate Web site.”
The results of the tests are significant because an increasing number of enterprises are developing extranets to offer their customers and business partners the convenience of conducting transactions online.
Microsoft, OpenNetwork Offer Low-Cost Web-Access Solution 2-2-2
“We are convinced that this product combination is the best fit to support the millions of customers, partners and employees who need access to our extranet applications,” said John Reynolds, senior advisor and technical architect for e-business with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, one of the nation’s largest healthcare insurers. “These products offer a powerful solution at a low cost that will easily scale as our business evolves.”
As more enterprises continue to adopt Windows 2000 Server, the test results further indicate that these enterprises can better use their investments in Active Directory by using Compaq platforms and OpenNetwork’s software to develop scalable, cost-effective security programs for their extranet initiatives.
“The directory is the key infrastructure component in most extranet application deployments,” said John Enck, senior research director, Server & Directory Strategies, of Gartner. “Choosing a stable and scalable directory is critical to the success of any extranet project.”
A free online seminar, “Microsoft Windows 2000 Active Directory: Secure Extranet Scalability, Proven High Performance and Lower Total Cost of Ownership,” featuring Enck and Weiner, along with Jackson Shaw, lead product manager of Microsoft’s Windows .NET Server Solution group, and Bob Worner, OpenNetwork’s senior vice president of product engineering, will take place at 1 p.m. EDT today. To attend the online seminar, register at http://www.regsvc.com/opennetwork/0919/.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies 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.
Microsoft, OpenNetwork Offer Low-Cost Web-Access Solution 3-3-3
About OpenNetwork Technologies
OpenNetwork Technologies Inc. develops, markets and sells Web single sign-on and access control software to enterprises that need to secure and manage millions of users’ access to confidential information. The company’s flagship product, DirectorySmart, is leveraged by large businesses to secure multiple Web applications and services across complex business relationships. With Web access control and identity and policy management integrated into a comprehensive and easy-to-deploy product, DirectorySmart enables companies to quickly bring their e-business initiatives to market and to easily manage, scale and support millions of users.
Headquartered in Clearwater, Fla., OpenNetwork has offices across the United States and in Europe and partners with leading e-business service providers, including Microsoft, BEA, IBM and Vignette. For more information about OpenNetwork and Directory Smart, visit www.opennetwork.com, send an e-mail to [email protected] or call (877) 561-9500.
Editor’s note: Copies of Mindcraft’s full report will be available at 2 p.m. EDT today at www.mindcraft.com/whitepapers/ds47ad or by calling (727) 561-9500.
Microsoft, Windows and Active Directory 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.
