SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Centrify Corporation, the leading provider of security and compliance solutions to secure cross-platform data centers using Microsoft Active Directory, today announced availability of Centrify DirectSecure(TM), a software solution that secures sensitive information by isolating and protecting cross-platform systems and by enabling end-to-end encryption of data in motion. Using DirectSecure, organizations can prevent unauthorized access to computing resources and data, improve regulatory compliance, and have optimal, policy-driven protection against network attacks for mixed Windows and UNIX/Linux environments.

"Dynamic data centers contain a mix of Windows servers, UNIX and Linux servers, and virtual servers, which going forward will increasingly extend their reach out to services hosted in multiple cloud provider data centers, said Phil Schacter, VP and Service Director, Burton Group. "Policy-based access controls and secure connections are a key requirement to protect sensitive business information and systems."

DirectSecure leverages an enterprise's existing Active Directory infrastructure and extends Microsoft's Server and Domain Isolation technology to UNIX and Linux systems -- whether they are physical, virtual or in the cloud. DirectSecure also enables Microsoft Windows 7 users to take advantage of the Windows DirectAccess feature to securely access non-Microsoft systems and provides end-to-end encryption and security for those connections.

Organizations can use DirectSecure to ensure that sensitive data such as financial transactions or credit card data is inaccessible to anyone but authorized users connecting through trusted computers. This results in higher levels of protection against internal or external threats -- even in situations where the attacker has a valid username and password. Unlike network hardware-based methods, DirectSecure uses a host-based software approach, ensuring security policies are enforced regardless of the server's location or application protocol. Utilizing the native IPsec support built into today's UNIX and Linux operating systems, DirectSecure provides optional encryption of data-in-motion to address audit requirements and protect intellectual property, without requiring changes to applications or network topology. This makes DirectSecure the most secure, adaptive solution for dynamic IT environments that include distributed networks, virtualized platforms and cloud computing.

A Key Component of the Centrify Suite

Centrify DirectSecure is a component in the Centrify Suite 2010 (for more information, see related press release, "Centrify Suite 2010 Expands Ability to Ensure Higher Levels of Trust, Control and Compliance in the Data Center"). The Centrify Suite 2010 is an integrated family of Active Directory-based auditing, access control and identity management solutions that secure cross-platform environments of UNIX, Linux and Mac systems, workstations, Microsoft systems and applications. Centrify DirectSecure builds on top of the Centrify DirectControl architecture, which provides the ability to join a non-Microsoft system to Active Directory, thereby facilitating the ability for a UNIX or Linux system to obtain a Kerberos ticket or, with DirectSecure installed, to obtain a PKI certificate. DirectControl also provides the cross-platform Group Policy engine that DirectSecure leverages to apply end-point authentication policies. Other complementary solutions in the Centrify Suite include DirectAuthorize, which provides granular role-based security; DirectAudit, which provides user-level auditing of non-Microsoft systems: and DirectManage, which centralizes the discovery, management and user administration of UNIX and Linux systems.

Organizations use Centrify Suite to enforce consistent security policies and protect against security breaches from inside and outside threat; to meet compliance requirements by controlling access and auditing all privileged user activity; to increase operational efficiency of IT staff by delivering a single tool to administer user access across heterogeneous systems and reduce calls for password resets; and to improve end-user productivity by decreasing the number of login IDs across heterogeneous systems and applications.

Availability

DirectSecure is licensed as a component in the Centrify Suite 2010 Platinum Edition and is now available from Centrify and worldwide reseller partners for computer end-point authentication leveraging Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and pre-shared keys (PSK). Computer end-point authentication leveraging Kerberos and support for Microsoft DirectAccess is available under the Centrify early access program.

About Centrify

Centrify enables organizations to reduce IT expenses, strengthen security and enhance compliance by centrally securing their cross-platform data centers through Active Directory-based identity and access management. By leveraging Active Directory, organizations have a cost-effective solution for authentication, access control, role-based privilege management, user-level auditing and server protection for heterogeneous systems, hypervisors and applications. Built on a common architecture, the seamlessly integrated Centrify Suite - DirectControl, DirectAuthorize, DirectAudit, DirectSecure and DirectManage - has been chosen by over 1,500 enterprise customers worldwide for its quick-to-deploy, easy-to-manage next-generation technology. For more information about Centrify and its solutions, call +1 (408) 542-7500 or visit http://www.centrify.com/.