Linux News Desk

Federal agencies now have more tools from Verizon Business to manage network access, protect critical assets, help prevent insider security threats, and help the agencies comply with federal security regulations.

Verizon Business announced that it is offering Symark PowerSeries security access-management software and applications, integrating those security capabilities for UNIX/Linux servers and systems into the company's already robust portfolio of security solutions for government customers. These new services -- immediately available under the U.S. General Services Administration's Connections contract -- will help federal agencies comply with access control and accountability requirements associated with new stricter Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) regulations.

The addition of the Symark offering complements and extends Verizon Business' robust Identification and Authentication (PKI/Certificates) and Identity Access Management portfolio by enabling organizations to better control access to critical IT systems and information across diverse IT environments using UNIX and Linux data centers and operating systems.

Products available to government customers include:

• PowerBroker -- Symark's flagship product for authorization and access control within heterogeneous UNIX/Linux data centers. It protects the root or "superuser" account from internal exploitation by rogue employees or hackers.
• PowerKeeper -- a secure appliance with a sealed operating system that dynamically creates, resets and stores passwords to privileged accounts that are used to maintain and protect various devices within the network, such as routers, firewalls, servers and databases. PowerKeeper uses recognized best practices in security technology to address and resolve the potential security problems that come from the abuse of privileged access.
• PowerPassword -- securely deploys and manages user accounts, passwords and login policies across heterogeneous UNIX/Linux environments while keeping a centralized audit trail of all related activities.
• PowerADvantage -- an integrated authentication and configuration solution that extends Active Directory's centralized authentication, authorization, account access, policy enforcement and infrastructure management functionality to UNIX and Linux systems, creating a single sign-on environment to Windows, UNIX and Linux servers.
  

"Because of the sensitive and confidential nature of government work, federal agencies have a unique set of security requirements," said Susan Zeleniak, group president, Verizon Federal, the organization within Verizon Business dedicated to serving the federal government. "Verizon Business, through its acquisition of Cybertrust and its Identity Management solution, acquired a strong capability to help its customers efficiently manage user identities across multiple systems and applications. Adding Symark's PowerSeries solutions enables Verizon Business to even more comprehensively help agencies manage user activities and address insider threats."

John Mutch, CEO of Symark International, said: "Federal agencies need to safeguard their sensitive data by managing access to information. Because of our relationship with Verizon Business, federal agencies have access to an even more comprehensive portfolio of security products and services from a single source. This portfolio of products and services can significantly enhance the ability of federal agencies to secure their IT systems and protect critical data from misuse."