Layer 7 Technologies Demonstrates Interoperability with Key Components of Microsoft WinFX®; Leading XML Security and Networking Vendor Aims to Ensure Web Services Interoperability across Vendor Platforms

Business Wire, March 22, 2006

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Layer 7 Technologies announced today that it had successfully demonstrated Web services security interoperability with Microsoft's Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), formerly codenamed "Indigo."

Layer 7 was invited to participate in the Windows Communication Foundation Interop Plug-fest at the Microsoft Redmond campus, which was an opportunity to work with engineers from Microsoft to test Layer 7's SecureSpan product line with the upcoming version of WCF. WCF is part of WinFX, Microsoft's managed code programming model included with Microsoft's upcoming release of the Windows Vista operating system. WCF extends Microsoft's .NET Framework to enable developers to build secure, reliable, and interoperable Web services.

Layer 7 successfully demonstrated interoperability with Windows Communication Foundation using the Web Services Security (WSS) 1.1 specification including UsernameToken over SSL, UsernameToken for X509 Certificate and X509 Mutual Certificate profiles. In addition Layer 7 demonstrated interoperability with Microsoft "InfoCard" technology, the code name for an open federated identity framework, through the use of WS-Trust and a SAML token. The "InfoCard" technology will also be distributed as part of WinFX.

"Interoperability is the cornerstone of Web services and the WS- architecture," said Ari Bixhorn, Director of Web Services Strategy for Microsoft. "Using standards-compliant technologies such as WCF and 'InfoCard' from Microsoft, and Layer 7 SecureSpan, customers will more effectively be able to build heterogeneous systems that interoperate by design."

"Working closely with companies like Microsoft on emerging standards is ongoing focus for us," said Toufic Boubez, Chief Technology Officer for Layer 7. "Proactively performing interoperability testing before key platforms are released to customers is a key part of our strategy to future-proof deployments of our SecureSpan products."

About Layer 7 Technologies

Layer 7 Technologies (www.layer7tech.com) helps enterprises realize secure, cost-effective business integration using XML and Web services. The Layer 7 SecureSpan set of products are designed to govern and accelerate Web service integrations spanning security and identity domains without expensive and inflexible programming. The benefit to business includes faster time-to-market, lowered integration costs and security consistency across federated departments and partners.

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