New Security Suite Unveiled

The vendor, best known for its network operating system software, this week is slated to unveil Secure-Access. The suite includes Novell's eDirectory, NDS Authentication Services, iChain for secure Web access, Modular Authentication Service, BorderManager and SecureLogin.

The suite provides a comprehensive security solution that eases management of user identity and network access by providing administrators with central management capabilities and giving users single sign-on access, Novell executives said.

The software suite supports users accessing applications, databases and other network resources via several platforms including wireless, dial-up and VPN, and extends authentication beyond passwords to biometrics devices, smart cards and tokens.

Ray Szpiech, vice president of enterprise networking at SunTel Services, said the suite will help the Rochester Hills, Mich.-based integrator and Novell Platinum partner provide a full security solution more quickly to customers.

"It eliminates the complexity of a product or multiple product choices based on a set of customer requirements by combining a best-of-breed, complete set of security products from Novell," he said.

The suite services all of a customer's security and authentication needs, regardless of whether those needs are inside or outside of the firewall, and leverages the power of eDirectory, he said.

Novell, however, faces plenty of competition in the authentication, authorization and administration market, dubbed the 3A security market. Other players include RSA Security, IBM's Tivoli Systems and Computer Associates International.

Research firm IDC expects the 3A market to be the largest and fastest-growing segment of the Internet security software market, reaching more than $9.5 billion by 2005.

Novell SecureAccess is available now at a promotional price of $159 per user through June.