Centrify Enables Enterprise-Out Security for Applications Hosted in VMware vCloud Director Environments

PRESS RELEASE

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at VMworld 2010, Centrify Corporation, a leader in securing and auditing access to cross-platform systems and applications through Active Directory, has announced integration and support for VMware vCloud(TM) Director and the VMware vCloud API to enable IT administrators to discover and dynamically establish enterprise-out security policies on non-Windows virtual machines in the cloud. Using the Centrify Suite to secure vApps hosted on VMware vCloud Director environments enables customers to take control of their cloud hosted servers from the VMware vCloud-powered service provider and establish customer-centric and customer-managed security policies from Microsoft Active Directory. Using this enterprise-out approach which centralizes access control of their systems regardless of their location, customers can ensure that their hosted systems are secured as rigorously as their on-premises systems, simplify the integration of these systems into their operational view, and more easily comply with regulations.

"Our customers value the ability to completely control access to their systems, whether in VMware vCloud(TM)-based public or private clouds," said Jian Zhen, director, cloud computing solutions, VMware. "We are excited to see Centrify enhancing its technology to interoperate with the ever-growing ecosystem of VMware vCloud-powered service providers to deliver IT as a service."

The Centrify Suite leverages Active Directory to automatically enforce security policies and centrally control access to UNIX and Linux systems running on any type of platform, including physical, virtual or cloud environments. An integral component of the Centrify Suite, DirectManage, leverages the VMware vCloud API to provide comprehensive management of vApps. After auto-discovering all vApps running in a VMware vCloud Director environment, it then analyzes the readiness of a discovered server to join Active Directory, deploys the Centrify Suite and joins the server to Active Directory. Alternatively, the Centrify Suite can be installed as part of the server template and automatically joined to Active Directory upon first boot.

Once installed and joined to the domain, the Centrify Suite enables the customer to take control of the security of the machine from the host provider by automatically taking over password management of privileged accounts and dynamically provisioning user accounts and privileged user access controls upon user login. The Centrify Suite centralizes the management of access controls and security for that system using Active Directory and Group Policy and enables federated single sign-on for VMware vCloud and application access and host-based, peer-to-peer network security to isolate sensitive servers.

From within a single Centrify DirectManage console, IT administrators can view and access all servers regardless of their location whether on-premises, physical, virtual, or in the cloud. For customers who prefer it, Centrify also supports administrative access via PuTTY, WinSCP and VNC.

"Centrify is pleased to collaborate with VMware to deliver our technology to the VMware vCloud Director-based private and public clouds," said Frank Cabri, vice president of marketing at Centrify. "By managing all of their vApps within Active Directory, IT organizations can apply their established authentication and privilege management policies to virtualized servers anywhere."

Availability

The Centrify Suite is available now, and the VMware vCloud API support to dynamically establish the controls will be available in the fourth quarter of 2010.

About the Centrify Suite

The Centrify Suite centrally secures cross-platform data centers through Active Directory-based identity and access management of the industry's widest range of heterogeneous systems, hypervisors and applications. Built on an integrated architecture that leverages our patented technology, the Centrify Suite of solutions include integrated authentication, access control, role-based privilege management, and user-level auditing and server protection solutions. The components of the Centrify Suite consist of Centrify DirectControl, Centrify DirectAuthorize, Centrify DirectAudit, Centrify DirectSecure, and Centrify DirectManage.

About Centrify

Centrify is the leader in securing and auditing access to cross-platform systems and applications through Active Directory. From the data center and into the cloud, Centrify's identity consolidation and privilege management solutions are used by over 2500 organizations to reduce IT expenses, strengthen security and meet compliance requirements. For more information about Centrify and its solutions, call +1 (408) 542-7500 or visit www.centrify.com

Centrify, DirectControl and DirectAudit are registered trademarks and DirectAuthorize, DirectSecure, DirectControl Express and DirectManage are trademarks of Centrify Corporation in the United States and other countries. VMware, VMware vCloud and VMworld are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. The use of the word "partner" or "partnership" does not imply a legal partnership relationship between VMware and any other company. All other product and company names used in this document may be trademarks of their respective companies.

SOURCE Centrify Corporation