IBM and Lotus Donate Industry-Standard Security Software to Internet Community

Strategic Insights -

IBM and Lotus Development Corp. have donated industry-standard security software source code to the Internet community, aiming to make online commerce easier and more secure. The software is based on Internet standards defined by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and provides a reference implementation of the Public Key Infrastructure (PKIX) standard. This donation will help unify the Internet community by enabling vendors to adopt, develop, and promote a standard way to secure any and all applications with digital certificates.

The PKIX standard provides the mechanism to issue, validate, revoke, and renew digital certificates, which can be used for electronic identification and authentication. The reference implementation will be available through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Web site at the end of August and will support Windows NT. A version for Sun Solaris will be available by the end of the year, with plans to support other operating systems, including AIX, OS/2, OS/400, and OS/390, in the future.

Several leading companies, associations, and software vendors have already expressed their support for the PKIX standard, including General Motors, JP Morgan, Netscape, Sun, and Equifax, among others. These organizations recognize the importance of interoperability standards in constructing a worldwide e-commerce framework and promoting secure electronic commerce.

Key Takeaways:

  • IBM and Lotus have donated industry-standard security software source code to the Internet community to make online commerce easier and more secure.
  • The software is based on Internet standards defined by the IETF and provides a reference implementation of the PKIX standard.
  • The PKIX standard provides the mechanism to issue, validate, revoke, and renew digital certificates for electronic identification and authentication.
  • The reference implementation will be available through MIT's Web site at the end of August and will support Windows NT.
  • A version for Sun Solaris will be available by the end of the year, with plans to support other operating systems in the future.
  • The PKIX standard has been supported by several leading companies, associations, and software vendors, including General Motors, JP Morgan, Netscape, Sun, and Equifax.
  • IBM and Lotus plan to integrate the PKIX standard throughout their products, including IBM eNetwork Firewall and IBM Global Sign-On.
  • Tivoli will provide management support for the standards-based digital certificate environment.
  • IBM Global Services will offer services and consulting support to help customers implement and deploy an architecture that supports an enterprise-wide PKI.

Statistics:

  • Over 20 organizations have participated in authoring the PKIX standard.
  • Leading companies, associations, and software vendors have supported the PKIX standard, including General Motors, JP Morgan, Netscape, Sun, and Equifax.
  • IBM plans to offer the complete reference implementation function plus additional enhancements on AIX in January 1999.
  • IBM's reference implementation will be available for Windows NT at the end of August and for Sun Solaris by the end of the year.
  • The PKIX standard has been endorsed by several leading industry experts and organizations.

Sources:

  • Business Wire, "IBM and Lotus Development Corp. Donate Industry-Standard Security Software to Internet Community," July 28, 1998.
  • IETF, "Public Key Infrastructure (PKIX) - Internet Draft."
  • IBM, "eNetwork Firewall."
  • IBM, "Global Sign-On."
  • Lotus Development Corp., "Lotus Notes and Lotus Domino."
  • MIT, "Web Site."
  • Netscape Communications Corporation, "Mission Control product line."
  • Sun Microsystems, Inc., "Java Software."
  • DASCOM, Inc., "IntraVerse."