Sun Names Chief Security Officer

Sun Microsystems

The company also announced the appointment of Joanne Masters as director of the newly created Sun Global Security Program Office.

Diffie, who has worked at Sun since 1991, invented the concept of public-key encryption and is well-known as an authority on security issues.

Sun said the CSO and the new global security program will advocate Sun's security offerings and educate customers and partners on security issues.

They also will expand Sun's relationship with key security organizations, both nationally and internationally, and address future security requirements through a coordinated effort across Sun's research, product-development, marketing and sales organizations, the company said in a statement.

Masters also will work to raise Sun's presence on security issues, the vendor said.

Earlier this year, Microsoft named Scott Charney, a former PricewaterhouseCoopers cybercrime expert, as its new chief security strategist.