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SECUREPIPE
COMMUNICATIONS ACHIEVES DUAL
CHECKMARK CERTIFICATIONS: FIREWALL AND VPN
Rampart Managed Firewall Server and its VPN solution obtain dual certification
under the Checkmark standard[Swansea, Wales, 12.00 GMT, Mar-10-2000]
West Coast Labs today announced that the SecurePipe Communications’
Rampart Firewall and its integrated VPN have both been certified by
the achievement of the Firewall Checkmark and the VPN Checkmark. This
is the first time this dual certification has been achieved by a single
product. The Checkmark certification system is administered by West
Coast Labs, the globally-recognised independent certification organization,
and is designed to give users clear and unambiguous verification of
the security performance of their security solution."By achieving
the Firewall Checkmark and the VPN Checkmark, SecurePipe’s
Rampart Firewall Server has demonstrated the product’s ability
to provide security for both firewall applications and VPN applications,
and thereby demonstrates an across-the-board compliance with these
important standards. Unlike some other certification systems, the
Checkmark system utilises a black box testing methodology which is
similar to the "crash dummy" testing that has so improved
motor vehicle safety over the years," says Paul Robinson, technical
director at West Coast Labs. "By using this methodology, we’re
seeking to provide users with a standard that immediately signals
quality, and the SecurePipe’s Rampart Firewall Server certainly
came up to that tough standard."Lawrence T. Levine, Managing
Director of SecurePipe Communications comments, "Internet security
is a critical issue particularly for small and medium-sized businesses
that may not have in-house staff with the skills necessary to adequately
manage this particular risk. The Rampart Firewall is a remarkably
affordable option for such firms, offering customized security solutions,
with remote monitoring by an expert technical staff. We are very pleased
that the Rampart has met the stringent standards of West Coast Labs
Checkmark certification system."West Coast Labs regularly tests
registered products and keeps the public informed of the status of
each product through its web site (www.check-mark.com). Where products fail
to stay abreast of the standard – including any future improvements
– their certification is suspended and ultimately withdrawn if
the developer fails to rectify the shortcoming. This gives users the
reassurance that they can rely on Checkmark-verified products, as
the manufacturer has made a serious commitment to product quality.About
SecurePipe CommunicationsFounded in 1997, SecurePipe Communications
(www.securepipe.com) is a
worldwide provider of value-based security solutions. SecurePipe enables
small and medium sized enterprises (between 15 and 500 users per location)
to leverage the profitability of the Internet and manage the associated
risks by delivering a comprehensive security solution. Companies with
DSL, Cable, ISDN, T1 or frame-relay connections can benefit from the
SecurePipe solution. SecurePipe provides additional value for businesses
by allowing them to outsource technical monitoring services. This
provides SecurePipe customers with a cost-effective outsourced security
solution in lieu of expensive dedicated network security personnel.BackgroundThe
Checkmark provides a clear and unambiguous indication of attainment
of a relevant standard for users of computer security solutions. The
Checkmark consists of a standard, a test and a certificate. The standard
is a real-world, industry accepted test. The test may be carried out
by West Coast Labs or by an accredited tester. The certificate is
awarded by West Coast Labs. Several Checkmarks exist currently (or
are imminent):
- Anti-Virus Checkmark
- Trojan Checkmark
- Firewall Checkmark
- Year 2000 Checkmark
- UPS Checkmark
- VPN Checkmark
The Firewall Checkmark (Level 1) and the VPN Checkmark (Level 1),
conducted by West Coast Labs, both test to see that the products can
achieve a basic level of protection against a wide range of today’s
most common hostile attacks, from both inside and outside the organization.
This gives a clear and independent indication to end users that certified
products can be relied on to meet today’s security requirements.
This testing procedure is repeated every twelve months (or earlier
if major revisions of certified products are released). If a product
fails to preserve its level of security performance, its Checkmark
is suspended and even withdrawn if the manufacturer does not improve
the product’s security performance. This means that users can
rely on Checkmarked products since the manufacturers are making a
serious commitment to the quality of their products and that is being
independently verified by West Coast Labs.Users can easily verify
that a product has a Checkmark by looking at the product box to see
if it carries the Checkmark logo, by contacting West Coast Labs, or
by visiting the Checkmark web site.The Checkmark is the dominant global
standard of effectiveness of computer security products.
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