Secure Computing announces immediate availability of Sidewinder 3.0; Security server employs fully integrated perimeter security, IPsec interoperable encryption, strong user authentication, and E-mail content filtering

Business Wire, Sept 17, 1996

ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 17, 1996--Secure Computing Corporation (Nasdaq: SCUR) today announced the immediate availability of the Sidewinder 3.0 perimeter security server.

The new Sidewinder 3.0 adds significant enhancements to Sidewinder's award-winning application gateway based on the Company's patented Type Enforcement technology. Sidewinder 3.0 sets a new standard for perimeter security by integrating IPsec interoperable encryption, challenge-response authentication, and content filtering, all from a new drag-and-drop user interface.

"The Sidewinder product is already recognized as offering unrivaled security to organizations that depend on the absolute highest level of reliability," said Kermit Beseke, Secure Computing's chairman and CEO. "Sidewinder Security Server 3.0 is revolutionary in that it brings together all the elements of perimeter security into one package, offering unmatched functionality in an uncompromised security platform."

Sidewinder 3.0 includes:

Type Enforcement -- Type Enforcement divides domains and controls the processes in each, thereby preventing an attack on an Internet server from accessing domains serving internal, protected networks. An attacker can not overrun a Sidewinder because the Type Enforcement restrictions can not be disabled while the system is handling network traffic.

IPsec-based Encryption -- Sidewinder 3.0 also adds interoperable encryption, based on the IPsec standard. Support for remote client-to-firewall encryption allows secure channels between remote workers, customers and partners.

Integrated LOCKout authentication -- With this release of Sidewinder, Secure Computing is integrating client access authentication using its LOCKout access control system. This provides authentication of remote Internet and remote dial-in users. Support for TACACS and RADIUS protocols allows easy integration into existing dial-in environments. Because it is based on Data Encryption Standard (DES), it can support a wide variety of challenge/response hardware and software tokens. This allows network administrators to centralize access control without investing in new tokens for existing client systems.

WebTrack Internet Monitoring and Filtering -- WebTrack controls and monitors Internet use within the enterprise. WebTrack employs a customizable Control List which allows organizations to keep unwanted content out of the workplace, reduces or eliminates non-business surfing, and preserves bandwidth for productive business use. WebTrack logs all Internet access, report usage statistics, and blocks for HTTP, FTP, GOPHER and NNTP.

JAVA Applet Filtering -- Despite the popularity of Java applets, many companies are concerned with the security issues that come with the capability to run executables on your local machine that originate over the Internet. Sidewinder Security Server 3.0 allows for the option to allow or disallow Java applets into the internal LAN of an organization.

E-mail Filtering -- Sidewinder 3.0 offers size, binary, and key word search filters to screen incoming or outgoing mail messages. Sidewinder can filter mail using any combination of these filters, in any order. The size filter rejects the message if it contains a number of bytes greater or equal to the threshold size. The binary filter looks at the pattern of the text to determine if it is normal, human-readable text. The key word filter provides a search for a specific set of characters, or key words, within an e-mail message.

Single Administration Interface -- An improved management system allows the administrator to manage Sidewinder's robust facilities from a single drag-and-drop graphical user interface. Expanded auditing capabilities allows centralized reporting of security information.

Sidewinder Specific SNMP MIB -- Sidewinder 3.0 supports the standard MIB II which allows the Sidewinder to be monitored from Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) compliant network management stations. Sidewinder can check which proxies are up and running, and audit alarms can be integrated with SNMP to alert the user of security threats.

Pricing

Pricing for Sidewinder 3.0 begins at $7,000.

About Secure Computing

Headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., Secure Computing markets a powerful suite of network security solutions, including its BorderWare Firewall Server and its award-winning Sidewinder Enterprise Security Server, which together comprise a family of Internet firewalls; WebTrack, a software solution for monitoring and filtering Internet access and content; SafeWord, a family of network identification, authentication and accounting products; and information security consulting services. Secure Computing has more than 2,000 customers worldwide, ranging from small companies to Fortune 500 companies to government agencies. For more information, please visit our Web site at http://www.sctc.com.

CONTACT: Aaron Tachibana Charlie Guyer/Tracey Davis

Secure Computing Corp. Neva Group, Inc.

(510) 827-5707 ext. 108 (617) 441-4000, ext. 248/250