Check Point Software Technologies and Microsoft Expand Strategic
Partnership
PR Newswire - May 11, 1998 15:39
CHKPF MSFT %CPR %PDT V%PRN P%PRN
Partnership to Offer Industrial-Strength Enterprise Security and Unmatched
Policy-Based Management Across Microsoft Windows NT Global Networks
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: CHKPF), the
worldwide leader in policy-based management for active networks, and Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT) today
expanded their two-year strategic partnership to provide unified policy-based management for global networks running
Microsoft Windows NT. The, companies' efforts will accelerate, the acceptance of Windows NT as the platform of choice for
enterprise security.
In addition to providing tight integration between their respective product offerings, including the leading enterprise operating
system, Microsoft Windows NT and Check Point's leading policy-based management solutions, Check Point(TM)
FireWall-1(R), FloodGate-1(TM), Open Security Manager(TM), and MetaIP(TM), the companies will work together to ensure
the interoperability of security components from each company and to extend Check Point's policy-based management
framework to manage additional Microsoft products.
"Our existing partnership with Check Point has provided our customers with the combined expertise of the leaders in our
respective industries, ensuring the enterprise-level security that is absolutely critical in today's increasingly Internet-driven business
environment," said Steve Ballmer, executive vice president, Microsoft Corporation. "By extending that relationship to overall
policy-based management of Windows NT-based networks, our customers will be able to build leading-edge business
communications solutions, such as virtual private networks, that are revolutionizing the way companies do business."
The partnership between Check Point and Microsoft began in 1996 with the availability of the Check Point FireWall-1
enterprise security suite for Microsoft Windows NT. Today, FireWall-1 is the industry's leading enterprise security solution for
Microsoft Windows NT customers, and over half of FireWall-1 licenses shipped in Check Point's most recent quarter were for
the Windows NT platform. Check Point and Microsoft have also worked together to enable centralized management for
Microsoft Routing and Remote Access Server (RRAS) Windows NT-based router within Check Point's policy-based
management console. In addition, Microsoft has been a member of Check Point's OPSEC(TM) (Open Platform for Secure
Enterprise Connectivity) Alliance for over a year, with both the NetMeeting(TM) and NetShow(TM) applications shipping as
OPSEC Certified products.
Three Areas of Partnership
To accelerate the acceptance of the Windows NT platform as the platform of choice for enterprise security, the companies are
working together in three specific areas:
* Directory-enabled policy management for Windows NT to create unified policy-based management for NT networks.
Partnership efforts include the integration of the following Windows NT 5.0 features with Check Point's FireWall-l,
FloodGate-1, Open Security Manager and MetaIP products:
- Windows NT Log-On and NT Domains
- Microsoft Active Directory(TM), an LDAP-compliant directory service, and joint cooperation in the Directory-Enabled
Networking (DEN) initiative co-founded by Microsoft and Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO)
- Windows NT Event Monitor
* Interoperability of security components from both companies to ensure consistent, standards-based implementations for
business-to-business communications using virtual private networks (VPNs), including:
- IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) standards-based encryption for virtual private networks (VPNs)
- Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) interoperability between Microsoft's Certificate Authority (CA) solution and Check Point's
VPN solution
* Extending Check Point's policy-based management framework to include:
- Windows NT access control lists
- Additional security features in Microsoft RRAS
"As networks have become more global, policy-based management has become the 'holy grail,' the absolute essential element for
implementing a uniform security policy across an entire enterprise," said Deborah Triant, president and CEO of Check Point
Software Technologies, Inc. "We're delighted that we can partner strategically with Microsoft to accelerate the worldwide
adoption of policy-based management, which is a vital foundation to enable truly secure and reliable business-to-business
communications."
About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. is a leader in policy-based management solutions for active networks. Through its
patented Stateful Inspection technology, the company is uniquely positioned to deliver Secure Enterprise Connectivity solutions
that protect information assets and enhance the performance of enterprise networks. Check Point offerings include the world's
leading enterprise security suite, Check Point FireWall-1, and the industry's premier policy-based bandwidth management
solution, Check Point FloodGate-l (TM). The company has U.S. headquarters in Redwood City, California and international
headquarters in Ramat-Gan, Israel. For product information, call 800-429-4391 or 650-628-2000 or visit the company's web
site at checkpoint.com.
About Microsoft Corporation
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of
products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for
people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Check Point, the Check Point logo, Check Point FireWall-1, FireWall-1, SecuRemote, FireWall-First!, OPSEC, INSPECT,
FloodGate-1 and IQ Engine are trademarks or registered trademarks of Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. Microsoft,
Windows and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other
countries. All other product names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
/CONTACT: Emily Cohen of Check Point Software Technologies, Inc.
650-628-2036, or emily@us.checkpoint.com; or Kathy Gill of Waggener Edstrom.
503-245-0905, for Microsoft Corporation/
/Web site: checkpoint.com
(CHKPF MSFT) |
