MICROSOFT AND PROGINET ANNOUNCE SOLUTION TO INTEGRATE WINDOWS NT SECURITY WITH MAINFRAME AND AS/400 SECURITY SYSTEMS; Provides users and administrators single sign-on for LAN and host access.

REDMOND, Wash. and GARDEN CITY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 24, 1996-- Microsoft(R) Corp. and Proginet(TM) Corp. today announced new products enabling large enterprises to dramatically reduce the complexity of dealing with multiple user-ids and passwords.

The new products provide a comprehensive solution that allows for single sign-on and centralized security password control across mainframes, AS/400s and Windows NT(R) Server-based LAN environments within the enterprise.

This integrated password synchronization and single sign-on solution covers the primary IBM(R) mainframe operating system, OS/390(R) (previously known as MVS(R)), the AS/400(R) operating system (OS/400(R)) and all desktop operating systems that are integrated with Windows NT Server security; Windows NT Workstation, Windows(R) 95, Windows for Workgroups, Windows 3.x, MS-DOS(R), Macintosh(R) and OS/2(R). The AS/400 security system as well as all major mainframe security packages, IBM's RACF(R), Computer Associates' CA-Top Secret(R) and CA-ACF2(R) are supported.

"Our customers are struggling with the increasing complexity of managing multiple passwords and sign-on prompts as they access various server and host systems as part of their daily work," said Vesa Suomalainen, general manager of the SNA Server product unit at Microsoft. "This joint Microsoft/Proginet solution provides a significant step toward reducing this chaos, while maintaining and enhancing overall host access security."

The foundation of this solution is the unified sign-on feature of Windows NT Server, which enables desktop users to sign-on only once to gain access to all Windows NT Server systems on the network, as authorized by the administrator. After initial sign-on, users are then authorized to access files, printers, databases, messaging systems and other applications running throughout the network on any Windows NT Server.

Building on this foundation, the solution provides password synchronization with the AS/400 and popular mainframe security systems. This feature makes it possible to have one password for LAN and host access. The single sign-on feature automatically logs the user into the host security system when the user starts a 3270 or 5250 emulation session. For APPC applications, such as DB2(R) database access from a desktop application, this feature provides the host user name and password as the appropriate connection security parameters. The user's password changes are kept in sync regardless in which environment, the host or the Windows NT Server, the change is initiated. For example, the user changing his/her Windows NT domain password will automatically trigger the co-requisite password change on the host. Similarly, if the host administrator changes the user's host access password, this will cause the user's Windows NT domain password to be changed as well.

"Customers are complaining about the increasing `loss of control' of their security administration as client/server installations have grown dramatically," said Kevin M. Kelly, president of Proginet. "This solution empowers IS departments to fully realize the benefits of decentralized data processing while having centralized control over information access."

A graphical administration tool is provided to manage the mapping between host and Windows NT Server accounts; although the passwords are kept in sync, the user-ids don't have to be identical between the two systems. This feature can be enabled on a user-by-user basis, allowing flexible security administration. An additional tool is provided to end-users to initialize and update their own password information. This tool allows for smooth and low-cost roll-out of this solution in an enterprise without requiring the administrator to configure all users at once. The solution also provides a mechanism for self-healing, should password change transactions get lost for any reason between the LAN and host security systems.

Solving the multiple-password problem will inherently improve organizations' overall security, while making users more productive by not having to worry about signing on separately to all systems," said Stu C. Henderson, president of the New York and Baltimore/Washington RACF User Groups and the editor of The RACF News. "This solution is also a significant step in making Windows NT Server a true enterprise platform."

Pricing and Availability

The solution is entering wide-spread beta testing this month. The Windows NT Server component of the solution will be included as part of the next version of Microsoft SNA Server, scheduled to ship during the 2nd half of 1996. SecurPass(TM), the host component required for the password synchronization with RACF, CA-Top Secret and CA-ACF2 host security systems, will be sold by Proginet, and will be available simultaneously with the next version of SNA Server. Pricing will be announced at the time of availability.

For more information on this announcement, please see the Microsoft and Proginet Web sites as follows: www.microsoft.com/sna and www.proginet.com.

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.

Founded in 1986, Proginet (VSE "PRF.U") provides its customers with software solutions that integrate the information on mainframe computers with Microsoft and Novell distributed networks. Many of the world's largest corporations and government agencies are currently employing industry-leading software developed or owned by Proginet Corp. -0-

Microsoft, MS-DOS, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.

CA-ACF2 and CA-Top Secret are registered trademarks of Computer Associates International, Inc.

DB2, IBM, MVS, OS/390, RACF, OS/400, AS/400 and OS/2 are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation.

SecurPass and Proginet are trademarks of Proginet Corporation.

All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Proginet Corporation

Meyar Sheik, 516/248-3366

or

Microsoft Corporation

Vesa Suomalainen, 206/936-3704

or

Tony Fisch Consulting

Tony Fisch, 818/501-6608