AuthXML Working Group

Securant Technologies Announces Formation of AuthXML Working Group to Create Industry Standard for Web Security

Leading Provider of Access Management Software Invites Industry to Help Shape Specification for Submission to Public Standards Body

San Francisco, CA. November 10, 2000.

Securant Technologies -- the access management company that secures eBusiness -- today announced the formation of an open industry working group to facilitate the creation of the first XML-based standard for Web security, called AuthXML. This standard will leverage XML, which is platform and programming language independent, to enable authentication and authorization functions to be performed across and interoperate with multi-vendor Web security systems, packaged and custom Web applications, and network level security systems. AuthXML will allow integrated Web commerce and a transparent user experience by providing a standardized approach for presenting and keeping track of security details as a transaction or session traverses linked Web sites based on disparate technologies, applications and platforms. Securant has been working with its key customers and partners for several months to develop a framework for the AuthXML specification, and is now opening up its research and design efforts to help foster and accelerate the adoption of a universal standard.

"A breakthrough standard like AuthXML offers tremendous gains for eMarketplaces, exchanges and enterprises," said Pete Lindstrom, Senior Analyst, Security Strategies Service at Hurwitz Group. "AuthXML transports the 'genetic code' of a user's personal transaction information from site to site with a single sign-on, creating opportunities for referrals and 'personal concierge' services while providing a singular user experience."

With this announcement Securant is extending an open invitation to the industry to join the AuthXML working group, help shape the design of the specification, and support its submission to the appropriate public standards organization later this year. Through this open invitation the company is working to build consensus within the industry, speed the adoption of a universal standard, and avert "quasi-standards" which will cause further confusion in this already fragmented market. More details and information on participating in the AuthXML working group are available at www.securant.com/authxml.

"As a strong proponent of industry standards, Securant is pleased to contribute the AuthXML specification as a well-researched starting point for the creation of an open approach to Web security. We are excited about working with our customers, partners and peers to jointly develop a successful standard," said Eric Olden, Chief Technology Officer, Securant Technologies. "AuthXML promises to streamline Web commerce transactions, improve security and provide new opportunities for creating trusted high value on-line relationships. By galvanizing around a non-proprietary standard, we as vendors will enable our customers to achieve faster time to market, greater flexibility and easier implementations of their eBusiness and eCommerce infrastructures."

About Securant Technologies

Securant Technologies, the access management company that secures eBusiness, is a leading developer of Internet security software that provides a secure infrastructure for controlling user access to Web-based resources including applications, content and transactions. The company's flagship product, ClearTrust SecureControl, uses business rules to centralize, unify and automate every facet of access management including user authentication, authorization, access control, single sign-on, delegated administration, application-level threat detection, policy assessment, and auditing. Securant customers include Merrill Lynch, Baker Street, Chase Hambrecht & Quist, Lehman Brothers, MarketFusion, Experian, Scientific Atlanta and Thomson Financial. The company's partners include Access 360, Baltimore Technologies, BEA Systems, Inc., Check Point Software Technologies, Entrust Technologies, Epicentric, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, iPlanet, Microsoft, Novell, Oracle, RSA Security, SiteLite, Sun Microsystems, Sybase, and VeriSign. Securant is privately held and headquartered in San Francisco. To contact Securant call 415.315.1500, visit us on the Web at http://www.securant.com, or write to info@securant.com.

Prepared by Robin Cover for The XML Cover Pages archive.

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