VeriSign Signs Agreement With Network Solutions to Identify Secure Websites Within New Global Directory of Online Businesses
Users of New dot com Directory to Easily Locate Trusted Sites Through VeriSign Secure Site Symbol
April 19, 1999 10:14 AM
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 19 /PRNewswire/ -- VeriSign, Inc., VRSN , the world's leading provider of Internet trust services, today announced the signing of an agreement with Network Solutions, Inc. NSOL that will allow Websites secured by VeriSign digital certificates to be easily identified as trusted e-commerce sites within Network Solutions' new dot com directory (see related release "Network Solutions Lines Up Industry Leaders to Build Directory of Online Businesses" 04/19/99). The display of VeriSign's Secure Site symbol next to qualified listings within Network Solutions' global dot com directory will enable businesses and consumers worldwide to quickly and easily find Websites engaged in secure e-commerce and communications.
To date, more than 100,000 Websites worldwide -- including all of the top 25 e-commerce sites and more than 400 of the Fortune 500 companies -- have been issued VeriSign digital certificates to authenticate themselves to visitors and to enable secure, encrypted browser-to-server communications. A recent study on "e-commerce trust" by Cheskin Research and Studio Archetype (www.studioarchetype.com/cheskin) shows that symbols of authentication, such as the VeriSign Secure Site Seal, significantly enhance a consumer's trust of an Internet site. The study also cites VeriSign as the number one Web-originated trust brand in the world, maintaining the highest level of trust among consumers recognizing the VeriSign seal.
"The VeriSign brand is the gold standard of trust on the Internet," said Doug Wolford, Network Solutions' senior vice president, sales and marketing. "By providing the global trust infrastructure necessary for e-commerce to proliferate, VeriSign enables consumers and businesses alike to transact and communicate with confidence. The inclusion of VeriSign Secure Sites in the dot com directory will enable users to enjoy a safe and successful online experience by identifying secure Websites worldwide."
As part of today's agreement, VeriSign has been selected as the provider for identifying secure online businesses listed in Network Solutions' new dot com directory. VeriSign Website certificate customers with a .com, .net, or .org domain name -- either hosting their own sites or leveraging managed e-commerce services from an Internet service provider or Web hosting company -- will be automatically identified as a Secure Site within the directory. Any dot com directory customer not listed as a Secure Site can quickly and easily enroll for a digital certificate through Network Solutions, VeriSign, or VeriSign's network of global affiliates, including over 1,500 ISPs and Web hosting companies.
"The dot com directory will allow businesses and consumers alike to quickly and easily find trusted Web sites with which to conduct business," said Stratton Sclavos, president and CEO of VeriSign. "By identifying Secure Sites, Network Solutions is providing users with the confidence necessary to ensure that the businesses behind these sites have been authenticated and are using state-of-the-art encryption technology to protect online transactions and communications."
VeriSign Website Digital Certificates
VeriSign Website digital certificates act as electronic credentials to authenticate sites to visitors and to enable secure, encrypted transactions and communications using the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol. VeriSign's digital certificate technology has been pre-installed into all the major Web browsers and servers in use across the Internet today. In addition, the company is the only digital certificate provider to be currently granted an exception by the U.S. federal government to issue 128-bit Website certificates and the only company with 128-bit certificate technology pre-installed into Microsoft and Netscape Web browsers.
The dot com directory
The Network Solutions' dot com directory is designed to be the Web's most definitive place to find an online business, meeting a growing need for millions of Internet users looking for secure online businesses with which they can ultimately establish a buyer/seller relationship. Users will be able to search for companies with Web addresses in a variety of ways, by business category, type of service, sales volume, geography, name, commerce-enabled status, keywords and several other categories. It will also allow visitors to easily identify sites secured by VeriSign digital certificates via the display of the VeriSign Secure Site symbol next to the qualified listing. The directory will be launched in June and will be offered directly from Network Solutions' Web site, through major Web portals, and from partner Web sites, including the VeriSign site at www.verisign.com.
VeriSign, Inc.
VeriSign, Inc. is the leading provider of Internet trust services and digital certificate solutions needed by Web sites, enterprises, electronic commerce service providers and individuals to conduct trusted and secure electronic commerce and communications over IP networks. VeriSign's digital certificate services for Web sites and consumers are available through the company's Web site at www.verisign.com. The company's digital certificate services for enterprises and electronic commerce service providers are available through regional account representatives, resellers and VeriSign Affiliates worldwide.
NOTE: VeriSign is a registered trademark exclusively licensed to VeriSign, Inc. The Secure Site logo is a trademark of VeriSign, Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
SOURCE VeriSign, Inc.
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