Groove workspace software obtains first defense collaboration tool suite v2.0 interoperability certification

EDP Weekly's IT Monitor, July 14, 2003

Groove Networks Inc., a provider of desktop collaboration software, has announced that Groove Workspace version 2.5 has obtained the first Department of Defense (DoD) certification for collaboration interoperability. The report, issued last week, certifies that Groove Workspace version 2.5 is interoperable with version 2.0 of the DoD Defense Collaboration Tool Suite (DCTS), a standards-based means for collaboration among the U.S. defense and intelligence communities.

DCTS evolved from a 1999 congressional mandate to the U.S. defense and intelligence communities to address the lack of interoperability among their collaboration tools. The mandate: Develop a strategy for implementing collaboration tools throughout the DoD, and validate a prioritized list of functional requirements for DoD collaboration tools.

DCTS provides voice and video conferencing, document and application sharing, instant messaging and whiteboard functionality to support defense planning. DCTS, which takes advantage of commercial off-the-shelf software, gives U.S. military and intelligence personnel the ability to link various command, control, communications, computers and intelligence systems for sharing data, conducting collaborative planning, and consulting on information from worldwide locations.

"DCTS certification is a significant milestone for us since it allows us to approach defense and intelligence community prospects who have established DCTS compliance as a requirement for doing business," said Chuck Teubner, president and COO of Groove Networks.

"Groove Workspace is the most compelling secure collaboration offering for DoD and intelligence applications, particularly where cross-agency activity and information coordination is a requirement. This certification, and other cryptographic certifications pending before the U.S. Government's National Institute of Standards and Technology, will allow us to dramatically expand our presence within the defense and intelligence communities," Teubner added.

The Defense Information Systems Agency Joint Interoperability Test Command report, issued on June 18, states that Groove Workspace v2.5 "satisfies all collaboration interoperability requirements as a collaboration enhancement to the DCTS and is certified for joint use."

JITC conducted the testing during a four-day period in March at its division in Indian Head, Maryland.

Groove software's unique decentralized architecture provides an agile, secure and extensible collaboration infrastructure to support inter-agency decision-making. The software, which is used by more than 40 government organizations, provides secure communication across unsecure networks, supports mobile use, is self-synchronizing and isn't vulnerable to attack, because it doesn't have a single point of failure.

Founded in October 1997 and headquartered in Beverly, Mass., Groove Networks Inc. provides secure "virtual workspace" software that allows you to assemble people, information and tools to get work done, online. Groove software helps organizations, large and small, save money, time and eliminate travel by being 10x better than email alone for getting work done online.