Sterling Commerce's Connect:Direct awarded common criteria certification

Defined by the Common Criteria for Information Technology Security Evaluation (CCITSE), the certification is a globally accepted standard for evaluating the security features and capabilities of information technology products.

This certification provides Sterling Commerce customers an added measure of confidence in the level of security built into Connect:Direct, in addition to the product's foundation of proven technology developed using industry best practices. The Connect:Direct application was CC-certified on three platforms: Microsoft Windows, UNIX, and IBM OS/390.

"We're proud to achieve this elite certification when security is a top priority for our customers. They turn to Sterling Commerce for the tools to safely deliver high-volume data exchange within an organisation as well as to and from external business partners," said Michael Coyle, vice president, Global Managed File Transfer, Sterling Commerce. "Completing the 11-month CC evaluation process is an important milestone for Sterling Commerce and for our customers, who want independent validation of the security capability of mission-critical products such as Connect:Direct."

Standard security features in Connect:Direct ensure that access to data is governed by security and data management policies specific to each site where the application is deployed. An optional cryptographic suite addresses the authentication, data privacy and data integrity requirements related to moving data across public networks such as the Internet. With increasing threats encompassing everything from hacking to identity theft, providing a high-level, secure online environment has become a necessity for government-to-government and government-to-enterprise communications worldwide. For example, in an environment where security is paramount, the CC validation confirms that Connect:Direct meets the National Information Assurance Acquisition Policy (NIAAP) requirements set by the U.S. government.