Newbridge Networks Joins Xcert's Open Xchange Partner Program to Extend PKI Interoperability - for Xcert International's Sentry CA public key infrastructure software - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, Jan 17, 2000

Xcert International Inc., the leading provider of software products for securing business-to-business electronic commerce over the Internet, announced Tuesday that Newbridge Networks, which designs, manufactures, markets and services wide area networking solutions for Internet service providers, has joined Xcert's Open Xchange Partner Program. As part of Xcert's Partner Program the companies have agreed to ensure interoperability between products as well as initiate joint sales and marketing activities.

This agreement will enable service provider customers to seamlessly integrate the TimeStep solution from Newbridge Networks with Xcert's Sentry CA PKI and digital certificate technology, thereby delivering secure, convenient and cost-effective user authentication and access control for VPNs. Xcert's Sentry product suite will be interoperable with the TimeStep secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) from Newbridge Networks to enable secure business communications.

"Based on open standards, Xcert's solution provides customers with a secure, scalable and interoperable solution for large-scale VPN deployments," said Tim Hember, vice president, VPN, Newbridge Networks. "Because PKI solutions like Xcert's Sentry CA are essential to building large-scale VPNs, we're excited to be the newest member of its Open Xchange Partner Program."

Sentry CA 3.7 allows an organization to own and operate its own digital Certificate Authority (CA) according to its own existing business practices. The only solution to interoperate with all other standard PKI systems and extend PKI beyond the firewall, Xcert's Sentry CA enables enterprises to exchange digital certificates with business partners and customers regardless of location. Xcert's technology enables financial institutions, large corporations and government agencies to increase revenue and improve productivity by conducting sensitive business transactions electronically.

"We are excited to have Newbridge Networks join our Partner Program as we continue our commitment to interoperate with other PKI-enabled products," said Thomas Nolan, president & chief executive officer of Xcert. "As service providers deploy large-scale VPNs, our program ensures customers will have access to Xcert's interoperable and scalable PKI solutions."

Xcert's OpenXchange Partner Program is targeted to e-commerce product vendors, channel partners, systems integrators and consultants who are committed to deploying, supporting or interoperating with Xcert's award-winning Sentry CA solution. The program enables partners to plug in Xcert's PKI and digital signature solution, providing critical enabling technology for secure and non-repudiable electronic commerce over the Internet. As part of the program, Xcert awards technology partners with the Xcertified seal of approval. Xcert's Interoperability Lab issues the Xcertified seal after certifying that partners products meet the integration requirements for large-scale PKI deployments. Other benefits of the program include joint sales and marketing activities and preferential access to Xcert training, technology and product information.

Newbridge Networks designs, manufactures, markets and services wide area networking solutions for Internet service providers; local, long-distance, and wireless communications companies; cable television carriers; and corporate customers in more than 100 countries. The Company leverages its relationship with Newbridge Affiliate companies and strategic alliances with numerous other networking companies to deliver complete, end-to-end solutions. Newbridge customers include the world's 350 largest telecommunications service providers and more than 10,000 corporations, government organizations and other institutions. Founded in 1986, the Company employs more than 6,000 people on six continents. FMI: www.newbridge.com.

Based in Walnut Creek, California, Xcert International Inc. is the leading provider of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology. Xcert's products provide privacy and authenticity for conducting secure Internet business transactions. Xcert develops, manufactures and distributes Certificate Authority and Public Key Infrastructure solutions that use secure directory services to provide organizations and individuals with a secure and non-repudiable method of communicating with each other over the Internet. Xcert also licenses its underlying PKI technology to selected service providers and third party developers worldwide. Xcert can be reached on the World Wide Web at www.xcert.com.