Security Dynamics hits ACE to improve score

In a move to restyle itself as a complete security products vendor,es. Security Dynamics has launched a family of products to beef up Windows NT security.

Security Dynamics' ACE/Server version 3.3 and the new ACE/Agent for NT are intended to enhance and extend native NT security policies.

"There are plenty of utilities that allow NT passwords to be broken.

Our products address those shortcomings," said Dominic Storey, Security Dynamics' European technical director. "The admin account is 'God' - it gives the keys to the kingdom - and it is particularly important to strengthen that."

The latest version of the ACE/Server software delivers a new authentication methodology for securing Windows NT network domain access, in addition to existing methods for securing access to Microsoft IIS web servers and remote access servers.

Security Dynamics also announced new versions of its authentication and intrusion detection products.

Kane Security Analyst is a front-line analysis tool that is designed to perform security assessments and report security exposures in six critical areas, including user account restriction, password strength, access controls, system monitoring and data integrity.

Realtime intrusion detection is provided by Kane Security Monitor. The software is intended to filter through security and audit data to identify unauthorised activities, including compromised user IDs and privileged ID abuse.

Ace/Server version 3.3 software is available now at #3,456 for a 25-user licence. Kane Security Analyst starts at #434 (one server and 10 workstations) and Kane Security Monitor costs #934. Both will ship within a month.

In a parallel move to beef up NT security, two rival firewall vendors have launched enhanced offerings. Network Associates' latest Gauntlet firewall combines two firewall technologies, packet filtering and application proxies. Axent's Raptor 6.0 integrates a virtual private network server.