HP Expands Bullet-Proof Security to E-services Environment - Praesidium VirtualVault 4.0 trusted web server software - Product Announcement

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Nov 22, 1999

Hewlett-Packard Company Tuesday announced major enhancements and aggressive new pricing for its industry-leading HP Praesidium VirtualVault trusted Web-server platform. The latest version of Praesidium VirtualVault, Version 4.0, provides application-level protection for more of the leading business-to-business applications; supports a broader range of enterprise server platforms; and is affordable enough for price-sensitive markets, such as telecom and manufacturing, to more easily take advantage of VirtualVault's best-in-class application security solution.

Based on a trusted, military-grade version of the HP-UX(1) 11 operating environment, VirtualVault 4.0 protects high-performance Web applications, such as those from key e-services partners Ariba, Oracle and SAP, as well as other leading software solutions that incorporate threads, streams and 64-bit system architectures. With the optional BMC Software PATROL SafePassage for HP Praesidium VirtualVault, a trusted Web server can be deployed to protect these Web applications on enterprise servers from Sun, Microsoft, Compaq, IBM and others, greatly simplifying and accelerating the deployment of secure extranets.

"Customers today need solutions that support multiple platforms and Web-based applications from multiple vendors," said Roberto Medrano, general manager of HP's Internet Security Division. "With VirtualVault 4.0 and PATROL SafePassage, customers have a choice and can secure their Web-based business and Internet commerce applications with the industry's most widely trusted Web-server security technology. Our goal is to offer customers the widest range of options as they expand their businesses to the next chapter of the Internet, e-services, in which a secure, robust and available IT infrastructure is key."

VirtualVault 4.0 also provides a number of optional features valuable to companies deploying innovative business-to-business applications. A MirrorDisk/UX mirror-disk option, MirrorDisk/UX for the VirtualVault Operating System (VVOS), protects data and improves Web-server uptime, maintaining up to three copies of data on separate disks. With the MirrorDisk/UX VVOS option, data remains intact even after failure of a single disk or disk interface card. The BMC Software PATROL SafePassage for Virtual Vault option streamlines e-security installation, improving reliability, scalability and security administration with Web applications running on standard http servers from HP, Sun, IBM, Compaq and other vendors. VirtualVault 4.0 runs on HP's new A-, R-, L- and N-Class servers, as well as earlier-generation HP servers.

U.S. Pricing and Availability VirtualVault 4.0 software licenses start at an entry-level price of $17,500. VirtualVault 4.0 and the new MirrorDisk/UX and BMC Software PATROL SafePassage for VirtualVault options can be ordered now, and initial deliveries are scheduled for December. Free upgrades are available to existing HP VirtualVault customers with current support contracts.

HP VirtualVault already protects Web applications and transactions at 120 financial institutions in 24 countries with more than $7 trillion in total assets, including three of the top five banks in both the United States and Japan. VirtualVault combines a trusted commercial-grade operating system, a strictly partitioned Web runtime environment, a securely integrated Web server and comprehensive application and security administration tools.

The Internet Security Division delivers best-in-class e-security software that makes enterprise, ISP and ASP Internet applications safe for electronic business. The Praesidium product portfolio includes trusted Web-server platforms, Web access and authorization managers, extranet VPNs and firewalls. Most run on HP, Sun and Microsoft systems. HP's pace-setting security products, solutions and professional services help businesses deploy innovative new applications and e-services more quickly, securely and smoothly and at a lower cost. More information can be found at http://www.hp.com/security.> Hewlett-Packard Company -- a leading global provider of computing and imaging solutions and services for business and home -- is focused on capitalizing on the opportunities of the Internet and the proliferation of electronic services.

HP plans to launch Agilent Technologies as an independent company by mid-calendar 2000. Agilent consists of HP's test and measurement, semiconductor products, chemical analysis and healthcare solutions businesses, and has leading positions in multiple market segments.

HP has 123,500 employees worldwide and had total revenue of $47.1 billion in its 1998 fiscal year. Information about HP, its products and the company's Year 2000 program can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.

(1) HP-UX Release 10.20 and later and HP-UX Release 11.00 and later (in both 32- and 64-bit configurations) on all HP 9000 computers are Open Group UNIX 95 branded products.