Sun's Java Enterprise System Supports Liberty Alliance Phase 2 Specifications

Sun's Java Enterprise System Provides Immediate Support for Next Generation of Liberty Alliance Specifications

Sun Java System Identity Server Delivers Support for Liberty Alliance Phase 2 Specification for Secure Federated Identity

Early Access Available for Qualified Customers

Santa Clara, CA, USA. November 12, 2003.

Sun Microsystems Inc., a founding member of the Liberty Alliance Project, today announced that its market-leading Java System Identity Server is the industry's first commercial product from a software platform vendor to support the Liberty Alliance Phase 2 specifications. This support expands the broad functionality of the Sun Java System Identity Server, a key component of the Java Enterprise System, further enabling the deployment and adoption of secure and federated identity-based Web services to fixed and mobile users' devices.

"Open standards are fundamental to the development of secure, federated identity solutions and Web services. Expanding on our support for the Liberty Alliance specifications will help our customers deliver mobility with security -- the right services to the right people at the right time on any device," said Jonathan Schwartz, executive vice president of software for Sun Microsystems. "Identity is a critical component for secure delivery and deployment of the network services that help our customers gain a competitive advantage in an ever-changing marketplace."

The integrated identity services of the Java Enterprise System -- access management, directory, provisioning and delegated administration -- provide the best offering for customers to reap the benefits of federated network identity. The Java Enterprise System allows Sun customers to leverage functionality of the current and future Liberty specifications through the Java System Identity Server. Early access to the Java System Identity Server's latest Liberty functionality is available for qualified Sun customers today. For more information please contact Sun at: register-liberty-v2-ea@sun.com.

The Java System Identity Server was the industry's first commercial-grade identity management solution to support both SAML and the Liberty Phase 1 protocols. Sun is the first software platform vendor to support the Liberty Phase two specifications. The J2EE-based architecture of Java System Identity Server makes it the preferred developer solution for 'identity-enabling' mobile and data Web services. Java System Identity Server uses role-based access control mechanisms to centrally create and manage users, delegate user administration, and define the access policies for users on intranets and extranets.

"It's becoming clear that users are increasingly requiring anytime, anywhere access. Different people using many different methods such as PCs, kiosks, Personal Digital Assistants and mobile devices to gain access to many different IT resources need to know service providers and vendors can produce the necessary products and services to make this flexibility available and affordable," said Earl Perkins, vice president of security and risk strategies at META Group. "Any provider that can deliver a secure, non-proprietary and economical platform to do this has a good chance of being successful in the identity market."

The Liberty Phase 2 specifications are critical for deploying an effective federated identity infrastructure. Expanding upon the Phase 1 specifications, which allow for cross-domain single sign-on, these new specifications add support for cross-domain attribute exchange and a foundation for Liberty-based Web services. A federated identity architecture allows an authenticated identity to seamlessly take part in targeted Web services from multiple organizations or Web domains that have business agreements in place. This brings greater efficiencies for employee identity management, creates new market and revenue opportunities between business partners, and increases the end-user's control over identity information while facilitating their access to valuable Web services.

Sun is an avid supporter of building solid business, privacy and policy practices into federated identity architectures and strongly endorses today's release of the Liberty Alliance's "Privacy and Security Best Practices Guide." This document offers details regarding fair information practices in various regions and sectors, specific suggestions to combat common network vulnerabilities inherent in the Internet and the Liberty Alliance's recommendations regarding privacy and security. By supporting the Liberty specifications, the Sun Java System Identity Server can help a business more easily adhere to these privacy and security best practices today.

The Java System Identity Server leverages the market-leading Java System Directory Server as a central policy and identity data store enabling Sun customers to implement very large-scale deployments with sustained availability and performance. The Java System Directory Server is the world's most widely deployed LDAP directory solution with over 2 billion licenses sold and growing. In addition, there have been over 250 million Java technology-based smart cards deployed around the globe in a variety of secure identity and transactional environments.

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- "The Network Is The Computer" -- has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that make the Net work. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://sun.com.

[Source: http://www.sun.com/smi/Press/sunflash/2003-11/sunflash.20031112.4.html]

Prepared by Robin Cover for The XML Cover Pages archive. See details in the news story: "Liberty Alliance Publishes Final Phase 2 Specifications and Previews Phase 3." General references in "Liberty Alliance Specifications for Federated Network Identification and Authorization."

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Sun Microsystems Inc., a founding member of the Liberty Alliance Project, today announced that its market-leading Java System Identity Server is the industry's first commercial product from a software platform vendor to support the Liberty Alliance Phase 2 specifications. This support expands the broad functionality of the Sun Java System Identity Server, a key component of the Java Enterprise System, further enabling the deployment and adoption of secure and federated identity-based Web services to fixed and mobile users' devices. "Open standards are fundamental to the development of secure, federated identity solutions and Web services. Expanding on our support for the Liberty Alliance specifications will help our customers deliver mobility with security -- the right services to the right people at the right time on any device," said Jonathan Schwartz, executive vice president of software for Sun Microsystems. "Identity is a critical component for secure delivery and deployment of the network services that help our customers gain a competitive advantage in an ever-changing marketplace." The integrated identity services of the Java Enterprise System -- access management, directory, provisioning and delegated administration -- provide the best offering for customers to reap the benefits of federated network identity. The Java Enterprise System allows Sun customers to leverage functionality of the current and future Liberty specifications through the Java System Identity Server. Early access to the Java System Identity Server's latest Liberty functionality is available for qualified Sun customers today. For more information please contact Sun at: register-liberty-v2-ea@sun.com. The Java System Identity Server was the industry's first commercial-grade identity management solution to support both SAML and the Liberty Phase 1 protocols. Sun is the first software platform vendor to support the Liberty Phase two specifications. The J2EE-based architecture of Java System Identity Server makes it the preferred developer solution for 'identity-enabling' mobile and data Web services. Java System Identity Server uses role-based access control mechanisms to centrally create and manage users, delegate user administration, and define the access policies for users on intranets and extranets. "It's becoming clear that users are increasingly requiring anytime, anywhere access. Different people using many different methods such as PCs, kiosks, Personal Digital Assistants and mobile devices to gain access to many different IT resources need to know service providers and vendors can produce the necessary products and services to make this flexibility available and affordable," said Earl Perkins, vice president of security and risk strategies at META Group. "Any provider that can deliver a secure, non-proprietary and economical platform to do this has a good chance of being successful in the identity market." The Liberty Phase 2 specifications are critical for deploying an effective federated identity infrastructure. Expanding upon the Phase 1 specifications, which allow for cross-domain single sign-on, these new specifications add support for cross-domain attribute exchange and a foundation for Liberty-based Web services. A federated identity architecture allows an authenticated identity to seamlessly take part in targeted Web services from multiple organizations or Web domains that have business agreements in place. This brings greater efficiencies for employee identity management, creates new market and revenue opportunities between business partners, and increases the end-user's control over identity information while facilitating their access to valuable Web services. Sun is an avid supporter of building solid business, privacy and policy practices into federated identity architectures and strongly endorses today's release of the Liberty Alliance's "Privacy and Security Best Practices Guide." This document offers details regarding fair information practices in various regions and sectors, specific suggestions to combat common network vulnerabilities inherent in the Internet and the Liberty Alliance's recommendations regarding privacy and security. By supporting the Liberty specifications, the Sun Java System Identity Server can help a business more easily adhere to these privacy and security best practices today. The Java System Identity Server leverages the market-leading Java System Directory Server as a central policy and identity data store enabling Sun customers to implement very large-scale deployments with sustained availability and performance. The Java System Directory Server is the world's most widely deployed LDAP directory solution with over 2 billion licenses sold and growing. In addition, there have been over 250 million Java technology-based smart cards deployed around the globe in a variety of secure identity and transactional environments. About Sun Microsystems, Inc. Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- "The Network Is The Computer" -- has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that make the Net work. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://sun.com. [Source: http://www.sun.com/smi/Press/sunflash/2003-11/sunflash.20031112.4.html] Prepared by Robin Cover for The XML Cover Pages archive. See details in the news story: "Liberty Alliance Publishes Final Phase 2 Specifications and Previews Phase 3." General references in "Liberty Alliance Specifications for Federated Network Identification and Authorization."