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Entrust Technologies Announces a New Company to Focus on Securing Internet Transactions and Communications
Entrust.net to Provide Trusted Security Service for Web Servers
PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 25, 1999--Entrust(r) Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:ENTU - news), the global leader for solutions that bring trust to e-business, today unveiled the Entrust.net(tm) service to the international Internet community.
Entrust.net, a new company and Web site (www.entrust.net), builds on the existing strength of Entrust Technologies' product family. Entrust.net will offer a broad portfolio of solutions to securely manage e-business transactions and relationships.
The first phase in the introduction of the Entrust.net offering provides a service for issuing digital certificates to Web servers. These certificates enable secure communications over the Internet, intranets and extranets using the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol. Web server and browser software is pre-enabled for SSL -- all that is required to make it operational is a Web server certificate from Entrust.net.
Through a partnering agreement, Entrust Technologies now effectively has a root key embedded in browsers. This means that certificates issued by the Entrust.net service will be immediately trusted by the vast majority of Microsoft, AOL, and Netscape Web browsers in use today. These browsers will automatically recognize Entrust.net Web site certificates when visitors connect to a site.
The Entrust.net Web site is open for business today and is located at entrust.net.
According to an April 1999 report by IDC, there are now 5 million Web sites, up from 1 million just two years ago. This represents a market opportunity for Entrust Technologies to provide businesses with new, cost-effective means to manage secure transactions and relationships with their customers, partners and employees.
''It has become clear to us that the market demand for services to enable secure Internet transactions and relationships is rapidly growing and, in the past few months, we have come to believe that this market opportunity is currently inadequately serviced,'' said John Ryan, president and chief executive officer, Entrust Technologies Inc.
''The reputation Entrust Technologies continues to enjoy for leadership, superior customer service, high-quality product and service offerings, and unquestioned commitment to excellence will make our entry into this market a success. We look forward to the excitement and challenges that the Entrust.net offering will bring.''
The Entrust.net Secure Facilities
Certificates are issued by Certification Authorities (CAs). Because CAs perform sensitive operations in generating certificates, the software and hardware used to operate the CA must be maintained in secure facilities. To help ensure a robust and secure environment, Entrust.net will be hosted in world-class, ultra-secure facilities.
These facilities provide all of the required access control and physical security to protect the most sensitive information technology systems.
Entrust.net will have a secure CA system hosted at BCE Emergis in Toronto, Ontario (www.emergis.com). As a major outsourcing provider for international banking Web services and e-commerce solutions, BCE Emergis is a top quality service provider partner for Entrust.net. BCE Emergis will also be conducting the credit card transactions for Entrust.net.
''Our involvement in the Entrust.net launch is exciting for both organizations,'' said Brian Edwards, president of BCE Emergis. ''Our work with international financial institutions, global enterprises, and our ability to securely process credit card transactions has made us a solid partner of the Entrust.net service. We congratulate Entrust Technologies on this launch today.''
Entrust.net will also be hosted in a secure facility based in the U.S. The combination of these facilities provides the required level of scalability and redundancy to deliver a high level of security and operational excellence.
Entrust.net -- Web Server Authentication and Confidentiality
Web server certificates provide a trusted means of authenticating the identity of Web servers, providing those accessing the site with knowledge that the site is legitimate and that they can have a higher level of trust knowing that their transactions will be secure.
A Web server certificate is issued by the Entrust.net service only after the appropriate background checks -- such as having the Web server owner provide evidence of their identity -- have been performed.
Once issued, the Web server certificate enables SSL communications between the Web server and users who access that site. This provides a means for managing secure transactions and relationships with individual consumers, businesses, partners, employees -- anyone who connects to that Web site.
Entrust.net's Enhanced Service Offering
The Entrust.net Web server certificates are available in both one-year and two-year durations and include full life-cycle monitoring services.
Unlike current offerings in the Web server certificate market, Entrust.net's life-cycle monitoring service will provide notification that certificates are about to expire, so that the owner can make arrangements for a new certificate in advance of expiration and avoid costly and time-consuming service outages.
Entrust.net's life-cycle monitoring service also provides the ability for Web server owners to request immediate revocation of their certificate in case of suspected compromise. The Entrust.net offering will benefit from the experience the company has gained as the most validated and proven supplier of security solutions through the FIPS 140-1 validation program and the Common Criteria Evaluation program.
Web server certificates issued by the Entrust.net Web service will not be impacted by the Root CA expiration issue, which could be prevalent with other suppliers. The CA keys of many Web server certificates in use today will expire on or before December 31, 1999, which could impact millions of browsers connecting to these sites on January 1, 2000.
Owners of certificates issued by Entrust.net can expect a seamless transition to the new millennium and be assured that visitors to their Web site will not experience down time as a result of certificate dates.
''The Entrust.net Web service provides all of the critical services organizations require to effectively manage trusted transactions and relationships over the Internet using Web server certificates,'' said Ian Curry, vice-president of Entrust.net programs.
''We expect the demand for certificates from the Entrust.net Web site to proliferate rapidly as Web site owners realize they can use these certificates to establish e-businesses and to mitigate potential Root CA expiration issues later this year.''
Entrust.net Partnership with Thawte
As part of today's launch, Entrust Technologies has joined Thawte's Chained CA Program. Membership in this program ensures that certificates issued by the Entrust.net service will be trusted by off-the-shelf software that trusts the Thawte Root CA keys such as browser software from Microsoft, AOL and Netscape.
Browser recognition makes Entrust.net certificates attractive to many companies on the Internet today that do not yet have a Web server certificate or are looking for improved service from their certificate provider.
''We are pleased to welcome Entrust Technologies to our Chained CA Partner Program,'' said Mark Shuttleworth, president and CEO of Thawte.
''Entrust.net gains a significant competitive advantage over other new certificate providers by joining this program as the Thawte Root is widely trusted in off-the-shelf browsers. Entrust Technologies is a recognized leader in PKI technology so their membership in the Chained CA Program is a significant endorsement of our open cross-certification strategy.''
Entrust Partners Participate in Entrust.net
Several Entrust Partner companies are participating in the Entrust.net launch. Deloitte & Touche, LLP will be witnessing the procedures and practices surrounding the generation of the CA keys for the Entrust.net Web server certificate service.
''Deloitte & Touche is delighted to be involved with Entrust Technologies in the Entrust.net Web server certificate initiative. We believe this will augment Entrust Technologies' enterprise offering and provide further support and choice to individuals serious about conducting secure e-business,'' said Adel Melek, Global Service Leader, PKI Consulting Services, Secure e-Business Practice, Deloitte & Touche, LLP.
Ultimately, the CA key used to digitally sign certificates is generated and stored on Luna CA3, a FIPS 140-1 Level 3 cryptographic hardware module from Chrysalis-ITS, Inc. Chrysalis-ITS (www.chrysalis-its.com) is a leading provider of CA hardware security products for the PKI industry.
Entrust.net's Global Distribution Strategy
BCE Emergis (Canada) and Secom (Entrust Japan) intend to become distribution partners for the Entrust.net service. Each of these distribution partners will receive requests from customers and subsequently provide the necessary validity and background checking before forwarding the request to Entrust.net to be fulfilled.
This distribution strategy will evolve to include additional partners and alternative channels such as ISP's, Web hosting companies, technical consultants and more.
Entrust.net -- Services Continue to Expand
The services available from the Entrust.net Web site will continue to expand to meet market demand. The next phase of services, planned for Q3 1999, is expected to include insurance protection, server-gated cryptography, support for e-mail, virtual private networking (VPN), and code-signing certificates, enhanced distribution channels, and an expanded Partner Program.
Pricing and Availability
Entrust.net's Web server certificates are available immediately from the Entrust.net Web site and are priced at $299US for a one-year certificate or $499US for a two-year certificate (volume discounts are available). Entrust.net certificates are available from the Entrust.net Web site, Entrust Technologies' sales force, and the company's distribution partners.
About Entrust Technologies
Entrust Technologies Inc. is the global leader in providing products and services that allow e-businesses to manage trusted, secure electronic transactions over today's advanced networks, including the Internet, extranets and intranets. Since 1994, Entrust Technologies has been providing award-winning solutions to global enterprises, Government entities, small to mid-sized businesses and individuals.
Over four million Entrust Technologies users have been licensed with digital certificates to date. Entrust Technologies Inc. is headquartered in Plano with offices in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany and Japan. For additional company information please visit entrust.com.
Note to Editors: Entrust is a registered trademark of Entrust Technologies Limited. All Entrust product names are trademarks of Entrust Technologies Limited. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
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