nCipher Introduces KeySafe; Key Management Software for E-commerce Security.Business/Technology Editors SAN JOSE San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 17, 2000 nCipher Enhances the Security and Usability of Its Hardware Security Modules, Enabling E-businesses to Easily and Securely Manage their Keys in a PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) A framework for creating a secure method for exchanging information based on public key cryptography. The foundation of a PKI is the certificate authority (CA), which issues digital certificates that authenticate the identity of Environment RSA Conference The RSA Conference is a Cryptography-related conference held annually in the San Francisco Bay Area. The RSA Conference started in 1991 as a forum for cryptographers to gather and share the latest knowledge and advancements in the area of Internet security. , Booth #623--nCipher, Inc., the leading developer of high-performance hardware security products for e-commerce and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) applications, today introduced KeySafe(TM), a software package that enables companies to efficiently and securely manage private keys in a PKI environment. Used in conjunction with nCipher's nForce(TM) and nShield(TM) security hardware, KeySafe enables companies doing business on the Web to create, store, backup or remove application keys, improving e-commerce security in a user-friendly manner. nCipher's family of Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) includes nForce (formerly nFast(R)/KM), nShield (formerly nFast(R)/CA) and nFast(R), the company's industry-leading Secure Sockets Layer (networking, security) Secure Sockets Layer - (SSL) A protocol designed by Netscape Communications Corporation to provide secure communications over the Internet using asymmetric key encryption. (SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) The leading security protocol on the Internet. Developed by Netscape, SSL is widely used to do two things: to validate the identity of a Web site and to create an encrypted connection for sending credit card and other personal data. ) acceleration product for Web servers. The secure management of private keys is essential to the proper security of any e-commerce system using public key cryptography An encryption method that uses a two-part key: a public key and a private key. To send an encrypted message to someone, you use the recipient's public key, which can be sent to you via regular e-mail or made available on any public Web site or venue. . When combined with nCipher's FIPS-validated hardware solutions, KeySafe offers companies a scaleable and secure means of implementing a policy for the use and distribution of cryptographic keys. KeySafe's easy-to-use, intuitive graphical user interface graphical user interface (GUI) Computer display format that allows the user to select commands, call up files, start programs, and do other routine tasks by using a mouse to point to pictorial symbols (icons) or lists of menu choices on the screen as opposed to having to facilitates the complex tasks of key management procedures, without compromising security. Ideally suited to Certificate Authorities and e-commerce applications employing PKI, the combination of KeySafe software and the nForce/nShield HSMs establishes nCipher as the leading developer of e-commerce security products that deliver both speed and security for e-business applications. "When customers visit our Web site to activate their InternetCash(TM) cards, or use their InternetCash cards to pay for music and other goods over the Internet, they demand that their transactions are confidential, safe and fast," said Dr. Yiannis Tsiounis, cryptographer cryp·tog·ra·pher n. One who uses, studies, or develops cryptographic systems and writings. Noun 1. cryptographer - decoder skilled in the analysis of codes and cryptograms cryptanalyst, cryptologist and chief technology officer at InternetCash Corp. "Our security requirements are very strict, as we are providing a novel, completely anonymous payment mechanism for consumers to shop online. As a satisfied nCipher hardware customer, we understand nCipher's commitment to acceleration and security. KeySafe has been an integral part of our e-commerce initiative from the design phase. It allows us to securely manage our highly sensitive Adj. 1. highly sensitive - readily affected by various agents; "a highly sensitive explosive is easily exploded by a shock"; "a sensitive colloid is readily coagulated" keys and guarantee superior security and transaction speed for all InternetCash card payments." On January 5, 2000, nCipher announced the discovery of a potential weakness in the security of Web server infrastructure, a critical e-commerce element. E-commerce systems that lack effective key management capabilities are vulnerable to "key-finding" attacks where intruders enter an e-commerce Web server, find the private keys encrypted there and gain access to valuable company and customer information. Such an attack would require immediate action, possibly including shutting down an e-commerce Web site while the problem is fixed, resulting in the loss of thousands, if not millions, of dollars of business per day. KeySafe enables e-businesses to easily and securely manage private keys when deploying PKI applications, eliminating the risk of "key-finding" or other attacks. "The cryptography community has shown that private keys must be secured in a hardware environment," said Richard Kosinski, senior vice president of sales and marketing for nCipher. "Through KeySafe, nCipher is providing e-businesses with the highest level of key protection commercially available. KeySafe is an advanced software application that manages encryption The reversible transformation of data from the original (the plaintext) to a difficult-to-interpret format (the ciphertext) as a mechanism for protecting its confidentiality, integrity and sometimes its authenticity. Encryption uses an encryption algorithm and one or more encryption keys. keys in secure hardware devices independent from the application server. Companies who use KeySafe in combination with nCipher's nForce and nShield hardware solutions can rest assured that information in their e-commerce systems will not be compromised by "key-finding" or other unwanted security attacks." About KeySafe KeySafe's intuitive user interface simplifies the complexities of the key lifecycle management process, while still offering unrivaled functionality. KeySafe delivers:
- Secure management of cryptographic key infrastructure.
- Secure robust approach to disaster recovery policies for key
management.
- Fine-grained and flexible control over key protection using "k of
n" secret sharing via smart cards.
- Migration of keys from software into secure hardware.
- Easy-to-administer lifecycle management of application keys.
- A flexible, scaleable solution that grows to meet changing
security requirements over time.
- A comprehensive, platform independent key management system
architecture.
About nForce and nShield nForce provides secure key management capabilities combined with powerful and flexible acceleration of cryptographic key processing for e-commerce transaction servers and other PKI-enabled applications. nForce offers secure key protection in hardware and complete lifecycle key management. Smart card tokens are supported as a secure means of controlling access to keys. nShield provides both transaction acceleration and the highest standard of secure hardware key management. nShield has been validated to FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards) A series of publications issed by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that specifies information security guidelines for federal government departments and agencies. 140-1 Level 3. Its tamper-resistant physical hardening hardening, in metallurgy, treatment of metals to increase their resistance to penetration. A metal is harder when it has small grains, which result when the metal is cooled rapidly. combined with full key management functionality makes nShield ideally suited to Certificate Authorities and other secure PKI applications. About nCipher Founded in 1996, nCipher is the leading provider of high-performance hardware security products specifically designed for e-commerce and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) applications. nCipher's family of products accelerate secure transactions and provide secure key management capabilities for organizations with high volumes of security sensitive transactions. nCipher customers include many of the world's leading financial institutions, e-retailers, service providers (ISPs/ASPs) and government agencies. With offices in Cambridge, UK; Boston, MA; New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , NY; San Mateo San Mateo (săn mətā`ō), city (1990 pop. 85,486), San Mateo co., W Calif., on San Francisco Bay; inc. 1894. It is a commercial and retail center with some high-technology manufacturing. San Mateo, Spanish for St. , CA; Paris, France; and Hamburg Hamburg, city, Germany Hamburg (häm`b  rkh), officially Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg (Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg), city (1994 pop. , Germany; nCipher serves customers and partners around the
world.For more information on nCipher products and services, please visit our Web site at http://www.ncipher.com. nShield, nForce, nFast and KeySafe are trademarks or registered trademarks of nCipher, Inc. in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and other countries. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. |
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