Compaq Announces PKI Based E-Commerce Transactions
Tuesday July 14, 8:06 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Compaq Announces First Nation-to-Nation Public Key Infrastructure Based E-Commerce Transactions
Singapore/Canada cross-certification trials anchored by iTP Certificate Security Solution from Compaq
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 14, 1998-- Paving the way for trusted and secure electronic commerce across international borders, Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE:CPQ - news) today announced its enabling role in the first nation-to-nation Public-Key Infrastructure (PKI) cross-certification trial, successfully conducted on June 1 between the governments of Singapore and Canada. This announcement brings customers the choice, power, and freedom of truly global electronic commerce, while further emphasizing Compaq's vision of a ''New World of Computing'' (see June 12th press release).
Using public-key technology, emerging PKI environments ensure authentication and security for electronic transactions. Today's announcement marks the first instance of national PKIs interoperating with each other to secure international transactions--in this case, the purchase of a book from a Singapore vendor by Canada's Deputy Minister of Commerce. With technical interoperability now proven, the interoperability infrastructure can expand to include cross certification with other countries' PKIs, with the Singapore system providing a robust test bed.
The Singapore PKI--operated by South Asia's first Certification Authority, Netrust Pte. Ltd.--is based on the iTP Certificate Security Solution (CSS) from Compaq. The iTP Certificate Security Solution is a key element in Compaq's comprehensive family of electronic commerce products and services, announced on March 24, 1998, that empower customers to take advantage of the increased sales and operating efficiencies made possible through Internet transactions. The iTP CSS is specifically designed to provide organizations with the same reliability, scalability and security over the Internet that has been traditionally enjoyed over private networks.
''With digital certificates, it does not matter where you are in the world,'' said Ben Yeo, general manager of Netrust. ''PKI technology ensures accurate authentication of the buyer and seller. It's as good as being there yourself, even when you are thousands of miles away.''
Netrust, founded in 1997 by Singapore's National Computer Board and a consortium of leading banks, has deployed iTP CSS as its public-key infrastructure solution. iTP CSS is a family of certificate security products that ensures the authentication, privacy, integrity of information and transactions, and non-repudiation of transmissions routed over public and private data networks through the use of X.509-based digital certificates and digital signature technologies. The system is already serving Singapore users in home banking, government, healthcare, and education applications.
Netrust--which expects its system to grow to serve more than a million users by the year 2000 and hopes to eventually authorize and issue certificates for all Singapore citizens--selected the Compaq solution for its scalability, availability and stronger security attributes. The Certificate Manager solution is implemented on Compaq Windows NT(R)-based systems with the Certificate Directory--for secure repository of digital certificates--residing on a fault-tolerant NonStop(R) NSK server for continuous availability, scalability, and enhanced data integrity.
''With technical interoperability now established, secure global electronic commerce can begin to flow over the Internet or any public PKI-enabled networks,'' said Patrick Smyth, vice president and general manager of electronic commerce for the Tandem division of Compaq. ''We are pleased to be working with forward-looking Netrust by providing highly reliable and scalable Compaq electronic commerce solutions to build Singapore's advanced infrastructure into the new century.''
In the cross-certification trial, requests for certificates, which securely authenticate the parties in the transactions, were successfully accepted between the Singapore and Canadian PKI systems' certificate directories. Cross certification of certificates between the certification authorities was also successfully demonstrated, as was interoperability of encrypted and digitally signed transactions.
Netrust's CSS implementation uses a SignMaster(tm) Internet Security Processor, a hardware-based cryptography processor from Compaq's Atalla division, to offload compute-intensive public key cryptography operations from the Certificate Manager server. These functions include public-keys generation and certificates signing. The SignMaster solution also provides a hardware-secured environment, protecting critical cryptography elements and operations from unwanted capture. The solution also incorporates smart-card technology, enabling each user's private signing keys and other personal encryption keys to be stored on smart-cards for higher levels of security protection and transportability.
Company Background
Founded in 1982, Compaq Computer Corporation is a Fortune Global 200 company. Compaq is the second largest computer company in the world and the largest global supplier of personal computers. Compaq develops and markets hardware, software, solutions, and services, including industry-leading enterprise computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, networking and communication products, commercial desktop and portable products and consumer PCs. The company is an industry leader in environmentally friendly programs and business practices.
Compaq products are sold and supported in more than 100 countries through a network of authorized Compaq marketing partners. Customer support and information about Compaq and its products are available at compaq.com.
Compaq and the names of Compaq products referenced herein are either trademarks and/or service marks or registered trademarks and/or service marks of Compaq Computer Corporation. Tandem, Atalla, iTP, NonStop, and SignMaster are trademarks or registered trademarks of Tandem Computers in the United States and/or other countries, Windows NT is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States or other countries.
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