Ease-of-Use for Users and Powerful Management and Security Features for Systems Administrators.

CARY, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 10, 1997

SAS(R) SOFTWARE EARNS DESIGNED FOR MICROSOFT(R) BACKOFFICE(TM) LOGO

SAS Institute Inc. announced today that SAS software, its flagship information-delivery software for business decision making, has met the technical requirements of Microsoft's Designed for Microsoft BackOffice logo certification. The logo certification demonstrates that SAS software has been tested by Microsoft and is integrated in a client/server environment with the BackOffice family of server applications.

"This certification is significant for SAS software users on the client side, who will enjoy the ability to send e-mail and access SQL Server(TM) data from within SAS software, but even more so for systems administrators on the server side," said Gary Mehler, manager of Windows R&D at SAS Institute. "These administrators will have single-seat control over SAS software running on their servers, including the ability to install and uninstall SAS software on any Windows system from one administrative console, and to manage SAS/SHARE servers throughout the enterprise."

SAS software provides an enterprise-wide decision-support and data warehousing environment for accessing corporate data, converting it into useful business information, and delivering this information to the people who need it to make effective business decisions. SAS software gives users access to data from a variety of sources, allows them to manage the data and perform virtually any type of analysis on it, then lets them present the resulting business information graphically or in text-based reports.

"SAS has long been recognized as an important solution for enterprise customers because of its power and flexibility," said Craig Fiebig, BackOffice group product manager at Microsoft Corp. "To earn the Designed for Microsoft BackOffice logo, an application must meet quality and consistency standards which instill customer confidence in solutions carrying this brand. We are pleased that SAS software has been designed to give users the full benefit of key products in Microsoft's BackOffice family."

Client-side integration with BackOffice

For some time, SAS software had already supported several features required by Microsoft for Designed for BackOffice logo certification. On the client side, these include compliance with Microsoft's Messaging Application Program Interface (MAPI). MAPI is a messaging architecture that enables applications to interact with messaging systems across a variety of hardware platforms. Users of SAS software, which has been MAPI compliant for some time (since Version 6.10), can seamlessly send e-mail messages, documents, and files from within the SAS software environment, either through interactive dialogs or programmatically through the SAS language.

Another client-side feature integrated into SAS software is the ability to interact with and access SQL Server data from within the SAS application. SAS software provides this access through both DB-Library (providing direct access to SQL Server) and the Microsoft Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) call-level application programming interface (API). ODBC enables applications to access multiple data sources, including a wide range of relational databases.

Server-side integration with BackOffice

On the server side, SAS software demonstrates network independence, supporting a wide number of network protocols, including TCP/IP and IPX/SPX for inter-system communication. SAS software also supports Windows NT(TM) unified logon, which allows a user to log on one time to the system and use the Windows NT security system to authenticate the user for network and application resources.

"From a user's perspective, this means ease of use no new, application-specific passwords are required," said Robert Hamm, associate systems developer for Windows R&D at SAS Institute who worked with Microsoft to certify SAS software for the Designed for Microsoft BackOffice logo. "From a systems administrator's perspective, this means control over read-write and access privileges to SAS data across the enterprise." Both network independence and support of Windows unified logon, present in previous versions of SAS software, are required for BackOffice certification.

With SAS software now running as a Windows NT Server service another requirement for BackOffice certification systems administrators now have single-seat control of the enterprise, with the ability to remotely manage SAS data servers from an administrative console without having SAS software on that machine and without perturbing the server or network. A Windows NT service is a program that is controlled by the NT Service Control Manager, either locally or remotely, and can be automatically started at system boot time.

"By running as a Windows NT Server service, SAS software is more tightly integrated into the Windows NT server environment by allowing direct control of SAS/SHARE servers to system administrators," said Hamm, who added support enabling SAS software to meet this BackOffice certification requirement.

The final requirement of BackOffice certification for a server application is it must be installable using Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS). This requires an application to provide information allowing distribution as an SMS package, supporting remote, unattended installation, as well as uninstallation via SMS. Applications that support SMS are easier for customers to deploy, manage, upgrade and inventory.

With this support added to Version 6.12, SAS software meets the criteria for installation via SMS. When users run the SMS administrator, they open a package containing all the options needed to install SAS via SMS. "Enabling SAS software installation via SMS demonstrates that SAS supports Microsoft's stated long-term move towards easier administration of personal computers," said Steve Robertson, associate systems developer for Windows R&D at SAS Institute who added SMS support to the SAS System. "Now, from a single administrative seat, an IT manager can remotely install and uninstall SAS software to any server in the enterprise."

The new, BackOffice-compliant code will be available beginning with Version 6.12 of SAS software. It will be included as an update to Version 6.12, to be shipped later this year. This update will also be available separately as an update disk or Web download for existing Version 6.12 customers.

The Designed for Microsoft BackOffice logo certification is the latest designation earned by SAS software. Last year, SAS software received Microsofts Designed for Windows 95 logo certification, which designates that SAS software complies with Microsoft's usability guidelines on Windows 95 and Windows NT. SAS Institute is a Microsoft development partner and a member of the Microsoft Data Warehouse Alliance.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Now in its 21st year, SAS Institute is one of the 10 largest independent software vendors in the world, and is the largest privately held software company. The Institute's success is due in part to its continued investment in R&D $209 million in 1996, and more than $1 billion since its formation. This commitment to customer solution oriented R&D has resulted in SAS software being awarded the reader-selected 1996 and 1997 Datamation magazine Data Warehousing Product of the Year, the 1996 DM Review magazine World Class Solutions for Data Warehousing award (for Outstanding Service & Decision Support tools), and other industry honors.

SAS Institute delivers an integrated suite of information delivery software for business decision making that addresses the unique needs of business users and IT. SAS software includes capabilities and tools for data warehousing including managing, organizing and exploiting the warehouse; business intelligence including EIS, online analytical processing, application development and decision support; and applied analysis including technical data analysis, data mining and neural networking. SAS Institute also delivers business solutions for applications such as financial consolidation and reporting, clinical trials analysis, and IT service management. Currently, SAS software and business solutions are being used at 30,000 business, government, and university sites worldwide. SAS is a registered trademark of SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA. Microsoft, BackOffice, SQL Server and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

All other tradenames referenced are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

CONTACT: SAS Institute Inc.

Mike Nemecek or Pamela Meek, 919/677-8000

www.sas.com