Trusted Information Systems and IBM announce patent and software license agreement

Business Wire, Jan 23, 1997

GLENWOOD, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 23, 1997--Trusted Information Systems (NASDAQ: TISX) and IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced a patent and software license agreement which will accelerate the use of strong encryption, better enabling the growth of secure e-business worldwide.

Under the terms of the agreement, IBM acquires the right to license and distribute TIS's patented RecoverKey(TM) technology within the IBM SecureWay Key Management Framework, as well as in IBM products which will need key recovery technology.

"The synergy between two market leaders offers customers the broadest scope of security solutions," said Kathy Kincaid, Director of I/T Security Programs at IBM. "By entering into this agreement, we are accelerating the growth of widespread encryption, giving our customers what they need -- a more secure environment to conduct global e-business."

Steve Walker, President and CEO of TIS, concurred. "This agreement shows that RecoverKey can be what we've always hoped it would: a tool to facilitate the widespread availability of strong encryption around the world. Through this licensing agreement, both companies have proven their commitment to helping bring about an international electronic economy."

Under the terms of the agreement, IBM can incorporate RecoverKey into its suite of software products. IBM may also create a software toolkit using RecoverKey to be licensed by other vendors for their own cryptographic applications. IBM is also licensing TIS's Key Recovery Center software, which provides recovery operations in the event an encryption key is lost or damaged.

RecoverKey is the first key recovery technology to work within IBM's SecureWay Key Management Framework, announced last month at Internet World. The SecureWay approach promotes the coexistence and interoperability of various key management systems and key recovery technologies, enabling more rapid deployment of key recovery to customers. TIS commended this approach today.

"RecoverKey was created to meet the needs of an evolving marketplace," said TIS Executive Vice President and General Manager of Cryptographic Products Homayoon Tajalli. "We designed RecoverKey to function with both current and future applications and standards, and it will continue to evolve as the market matures. Being a part of the SecureWay Key Management Framework helps us achieve our goal."

Note: Comments regarding this agreement and detailed information on both TIS's user-controlled approach to key recovery and IBMs SecureWay Key Management Framework can be found on the World Wide Web at www.tis.com or at www.ibm.com/security

About Trusted Information Systems

Trusted Information Systems, Inc., is a leading provider of comprehensive security solutions for protection of computer networks, including global Internet-based systems, internal networks, and individual workstations and laptops. The Company develops, markets, licenses, and supports the Gauntlet(R) family of firewall products and other network security products as well as TIS's patented RecoverKey(TM) technology, which is the first and only key recovery system to meet US government requirements for export. In addition to providing leading edge information security products, TIS performs an array of services in the areas of cryptography, security consulting, training, and advanced research and engineering for commercial and government customers.

About IBM SecureWay

The SecureWay Key Management Framework is part of the broad IBM SecureWay portfolio of security hardware and software products, solutions, services, consulting, and research activities. The SecureWay family provides end-to-end security solutions such as cryptographic facilities, single-sign-on, distributed security administration, access control, firewalls, secure web servers and browsers, secure electronic commerce, smart cards, anti-virus and overall Internet security. For additional information, visit the IBM SecureWay home page at http://www.ibm.com/security

About RecoverKey

TIS's patented key recovery system, RecoverKey, is unique in that it avoids the main concern typically associated with the concept of key recovery -- the handing over of encryption keys or encrypted files for storage by a third party. With RecoverKey, no keys are ever transferred to a third party unless an authorized user needs to utilize the key recovery feature. To recover the lost encryption key for a locked and lost message, a Key Recovery Center receives and decodes only a "key recovery field." The KRF holds the key that can decrypt the lost message itself but that is the only user message or encryption key data the KRC ever sees, and then only if key recovery is requested. TIS licenses its RecoverKey technology available as a software Toolkit, in Key Recovery Centers, and in the RecoverKey and RecoverKey International CSPs, which work under the Microsoft CryptoAPI.

CONTACT: Cabe Franklin

Trusted Information Systems

202-452-9504

cabe_franklin@oar-wash.com

or

Tim Blair

IBM Corporation