DataDirect Technologies First Vendor To Implement Windows Authentication for Pure Java Access to Microsoft SQL Server.

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ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 14, 2003

Patent Pending on Type 4 JDBC Drivers Providing Single Sign-on 

DataDirect Technologies, the leading provider of components for connecting data and applications, today announced DataDirect Connect (R)for JDBC(R) 3.3, the first set of Type 4 JDBC drivers to support Windows authentication. Through an innovation claimed to be impossible by many in the industry, DataDirect Technologies has implemented Windows authentication within their Type 4 JDBC components used for connecting Java applications to Microsoft SQL Server data. DataDirect Technologies has a patent pending on this new technology.

Windows authentication is also called "integrated security" and "trusted connections," primarily because it is an integral part of the operating system and relies on the user being authenticated or "trusted" by the OS. It eliminates the need for users to login separately to multiple applications: the security credentials established for the user at logon time are used to authenticate the user when connecting to SQL Server. Windows authentication provides security features such as secure validation and encryption of passwords, auditing, password expiration, and account lockout after multiple invalid login requests.

DataDirect Technologies has implemented Windows authentication using Kerberos, a network authentication protocol designed to provide authentication using secret key cryptography. Kerberos is more flexible, efficient, and secure than other authentication methods. The Kerberos protocol is ideal for applications that share data over the Internet, because Kerberos eliminates the need to pass user ID and password information over the wire, ensuring greater security. Kerberos also verifies that data has not been modified in transit by a third party.

"We have embedded DataDirect Connect for JDBC drivers in SunSystems, our core solution. One of our requirements, driven by customer demand, is for integrated security on Windows platforms," said Simon May, chief technology officer for SunSystems. "DataDirect Technologies was able to fulfill our requirement for integrated security for SQL Server using Type 4 JDBC drivers."

Unlike other vendors, DataDirect Technologies has implemented Windows authentication in their JDBC drivers without making calls to external DLLs. (Drivers that call external DLLs are considered Type 2 drivers, because they are not pure Java.) This is important to many Java developers, because using Type 4 drivers like DataDirect Connect for JDBC eliminates the need to install the database-specific client library or additional DLLs, resulting in less setup and maintenance for deployed drivers. In addition, Type 4 drivers use the database wire protocol, which can help boost performance.

"DataDirect Technologies is continuing our history of technical innovation with this release by providing the first Type 4 JDBC driver for SQL Server that supports Windows authentication," said John Goodson, Vice President of Product Operations for DataDirect Technologies. "It's unique enough that we have filed for a patent. No other vendor has this feature in Type 4 drivers, and some have even claimed that it can't be done."

Additional enhancements to DataDirect Connect for JDBC include support for retrieval of auto-generated keys (a JDBC 3.0 optional feature), support for Informix 9.4, and improved NClob support for Oracle databases. Enhancements to the DB2 drivers include full transaction isolation level support, auto-creation of required packages, and performance improvements.

About DataDirect Technologies, Inc.

DataDirect Technologies is the leading provider of components for connecting software to data, providing standards-based technology that ensures consistent behavior and performance across diverse environments such as J2EE, .NET, Web, and client/server. With the most comprehensive support for ODBC, JDBC, ADO and XML, DataDirect Technologies helps developers bring software to market faster by speeding development, integration and deployment. No matter what the standard, platform, or data source, DataDirect Technologies ensures the easiest experience connecting software to data.

DataDirect Connect for JDBC is the only complete set of Type 4 JDBC drivers for Java database connectivity to all of the major databases, including IBM DB2, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, Informix and Sybase. DataDirect Connect for JDBC drivers are designed for maximum performance and scalability, support the latest database features, provide a number of innovative capabilities like full JTA support, and are fully compliant with JDK 1.4 and JDBC 3.0. DataDirect Connect for JDBC drivers are J2EE 1.2 and 1.3 certified.

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DataDirect Connect is a registered trademark of DataDirect Technologies. JDBC is a registered trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries and Java is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Kerberos is copyrighted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.