DALLAS, June 3, 2003 — Today at Microsoft®
Tech•Ed, Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) and VeriSign Inc. (Nasdaq
“VRSN”
), the leading provider of critical infrastructure services for the Internet and telecommunications networks, jointly announced plans to develop and deliver a series of next-generation security solutions for enterprise customers.
Built on Microsoft Windows Server (TM) 2003 and the VeriSign Managed PKI Services, this next-generation public key infrastructure (PKI) platform is expected to allow enterprises to deploy and manage secure communications and digital identity management solutions more easily, with seamless interoperability across heterogeneous systems and enterprise networks. The effort is aimed at delivering security solutions that address key enterprise security needs, such as strong authentication for remote access. It also would address emerging requirements, such as allowing roaming users to securely access wireless local area networks (LANs). The next-generation security solutions are expected to become available in late 2003.
“Improving the trustworthiness of our products and enabling our customers to leverage the full potential of their technology is a top priority for Microsoft,”
said Scott Charney, chief trustworthy computing strategist at Microsoft.
“The release of Windows Server 2003, with its increased security and reliability, is an important first deliverable in the Trustworthy Computing initiative. Those security innovations, combined with our collaboration with VeriSign, will enable enterprises to more easily utilize and manage the security capabilities of new and existing technology in ways that were previously unavailable.”
“Seamless integration with the Microsoft Windows® platform has always been a key feature of our services and an important part of our strategy to meet the needs of our customers with flexibility,”
said Judy Lin, executive vice president of the security services business unit at VeriSign.
“By combining Microsoft’s strength in software with our world-class managed services, we can deliver compelling and secure solutions to customers.”
Ease of Deployment
Initial work will focus on utilizing the certificate autoenrollment capabilities in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP to develop a simple-to-deploy service that can take advantage of a range of PKI enhancements. Automating the issuance and renewal of digital certificates to users allows customers to facilitate new secure usage scenarios, such as confidential and secure e-mail, file protection and digital signatures, that enable tamper-proof and legally binding transactions. The service also would support secure access to corporate networks through wireless LANs, virtual private networks (VPNs) and other applications.
Interoperability
A second initiative is expected to focus on interoperability services that will enable enterprises to federate trust, extending internal PKI capabilities beyond the corporate network. This would allow enterprises to extend their secure commerce and communications infrastructure beyond the perimeter and enable applications such as secure e-mail, messaging, form signing and secure network access across enterprises.
Increased Security
Enterprises can benefit from Microsoft’s ability to embed PKI seamlessly into desktop applications and from VeriSign’s expertise in defining, deploying and operating highly scalable and secure PKI solutions. As a pioneer in Internet security, VeriSign also provides SSL certificates, which enable secure e-commerce. In addition, VeriSign manages PKI implementations for thousands of enterprise customers.
Ubiquitous Integration
Finally, the effort is expected to enable enterprises to take advantage of the ubiquitous desktop application and back-office integration that is an important component of Windows Server 2003. This functionality seamlessly integrates the certificate provisioning and life-cycle management with Windows XP-based desktops, Active Directory®
, Exchange and Internet Authentication Server.
Microsoft and VeriSign also plan to collaborate on several longer-term initiatives to address the proliferation of e-mail spam, enabling services for Windows Rights Management and services that use WS-Security-compliant technologies.
About VeriSign
VeriSign Inc. (Nasdaq
“VRSN”
) delivers critical infrastructure services that make the Internet and telecommunications networks more intelligent, reliable and secure. Every day VeriSign helps thousands of businesses and millions of consumers connect, communicate and transact with confidence. Additional news and information about the company is available at http://www.verisign.com/ .
About Microsoft Tech•Ed 2003
Tech•Ed, one of Microsoft’s premier developer training events, which reaches more than 75,000 people worldwide annually, provides attendees with access to technical experts, the latest technical information, and hands-on labs to learn the skills they need to build state-of-the-art solutions. Sponsors of Tech•Ed 2003 include Dell, HP, IBM Corp. and VERITAS Software Corp.
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.
Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause VeriSign’s actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, VeriSign’s limited operating history under its current business structure; uncertainty of future revenue and profitability and potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results; the ability of VeriSign to successfully develop and market new services and customer acceptance of any new services; the risk that VeriSign’s announced strategic relationships may not result in additional products, services, customers and revenues; increased competition and pricing pressures; and risks related to potential security breaches. More information about potential factors that could affect the company’s business and financial results is included in VeriSign’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2002, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. VeriSign undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.
Microsoft, Windows Server, 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.
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