Bytware, Inc.

Archive for 2006

Bytware Brings Object-based Design to Security Solution

Monday, July 10th, 2006

RENO, Nevada—Bytware, Inc., developer of monitoring, notification, and security solutions for System i, AIX, and Linux, announced today the official release of the newest addition to the StandGuard Security Suite, StandGuard Network Security 3.0. This new version of the company’s popular network security solution represents a major rewrite and utilizes an object-based design that is consistent with OS/400 object security. Building upon the OS/400 design, StandGuard Network Security 3.0 provides a supplemental layer of public and private authorities to resources on your System i server.

An object-based approach to security reduces the time and effort required to create and manage authorities, reduces configuration errors, and provides a more usable audit trail compared to inferior, transaction-based designs. As Bytware CEO Michael Grant points out:

“Transaction-based security is time-intensive and prone to error. A big problem with the transaction security model is that any slight change to a previously ‘memorized’ transaction will result in a mismatch between what has been memorized and what is occurring. This requires constant review and adjustment to keep your access authorities working.”

The object-based security design of StandGuard Network Security 3.0 solves these problems by looking at the transactions and breaking them into the objects that are being accessed. Variations in the transactions such as upper/lower case or small differences in the SQL statement do not matter. The objects will remain the same and no reviewing is necessary.

StandGuard Network Security 3.0 is available now and works with i5/OS V5R3 and V5R4, and uses newer V5R3 exit point technology to implement true object-based security for SQL statements without parsing or memorizing every statement.

Additional features in StandGuard Network Security include: protection for all i5/OS exit points; support for public and private authorities; extensive reporting features with more that 16 different reports; automatic product updating; and a non-intrusive phased-in implementation.

Comprehensive information about StandGuard Network Security and free trials are available on Bytware’s website at http://www.bytware.com/products/ns/ or by calling 800.932.5557.

Bytware Newsletter: May/June 2006

Thursday, June 1st, 2006

Product News:
New product information available online
Do you rely on a specific Bytware product? Are you curious how other Bytware solutions can improve your system operations and security? We have just released all new, updated product literature that provides information on our full suite of products. Take a moment to find out how Bytware solutions work together and provide features that those from other vendors do not. Download the PDF of our new product booklet.

Support News:
The importance of configuring auto Bytware PTF updates
Bytware releases Program Temporary Fixes (PTFs) and/or enhancements to the StandGuard Anti-Virus and MessengerPlus 5.60 products from time to time. We strongly recommend that you automate program updates to take advantage of the latest program features as they become available. This ensures that you always have the latest fixes and enhancements. These PTFs are implemented in the same manner as IBM PTFs.

Both StandGuard Anti-Virus and MessengerPlus 5.60 are pre-configured to download the PTFs directly from Bytware’s FTP server and apply them automatically. All you need to do is test the update process and apply an automation schedule. For StandGuard Anti-Virus 1.11, use Menu Option 11 to test the upgrade process and then “Add a Job Schedule Entry” to automate it. For StandGuard 5.20 or 5.31, use Support Menu Option 4 to configure and schedule the upgrade process. For MessengerPlus 5.60, use Support Menu Option 10 to configure and schedule the process.

Company News:
Bytware welcomes new international partners
Bytware is pleased to announce three recent additions to our international family of partners. JForce now provides coverage of Turkey and RBS joins as our new partner in France and Switzerland, while IBM Czech Republic expands our presence in Eastern Europe. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to these new partners as part of our family that covers more than 22 countries.

Company News:
Bytware receives Webby and other international honors
Bytware recently received a number of international honors for design and marketing, including being named an Official Honoree in the 10th Annual Webby Awards for The Houston Record (www.houstonrecord.com). In addition to the Webby Awards, Bytware received three District ADDY Awards and two Summit International Creative Awards. In the District ADDY competition, Bytware was recognized by the American Advertising Federation for the Object Integrity Famous Quotes campaign. The Summit International Creative Awards also recognized the same campaign. Read more…

Education:
Is open-source anti-virus right for you? (MC Press Online)
These days, few users would think of running their PC or Windows servers without anti-virus software. Protection of UNIX, Linux, and even System i servers is also becoming part of corporate security policy. But the lure of a cheap elixir is a risky temptation that some users are seeing as an easy way to address the need. While free or inexpensive anti-virus may seem like an adequate solution, it is not. There are real dangers to using open source solutions, and the protection they provide is of little benefit-not much better than taking no steps at all. Here, we look at the realities of open source anti-virus solutions and how they can compromise your security. Read the full article…

Education:
Enhance security through monitoring & notification. (MC Press Online)
Security applications and monitoring/notification applications often come from different vendors, and as a result it is easy to view them as distinct and separate. However, the two go hand in hand, and monitoring/notification products play a significant role in security. While security largely centers around keeping would-be thieves or destructive viruses away from sensitive information, keeping a vigilant eye on activity and knowing immediately when something happens is essential to success. In this TechTip, we’ll look at how to combine traditional security solutions with automated monitoring/notification and real-time user monitoring. Read the full article…

Education:
The Essential Guide to IFS Security. (from iSeries NEWS)
The Integrated File System (IFS) is critical to the iSeries’ ability to operate in a heterogeneous network. IFS lets the iSeries serve as an archival store for ASCII files, which PC users can retrieve and manipulate using the traditional Windows file system. It also serves as a repository for Web-hosted files and applications, such as those written in Java, JavaScript, and PHP.

But to be palatable to these uses, the IFS must eschew the strong capability-based security architecture of i5/OS and descend to the lowest common denominator file system - one based on the much weaker, but simpler, Unix security model. And therein lurks a monster. Since the IFS exists on every iSeries, it makes a perfect chink in the armor for hackers to gain a foothold into your system. Thanks to its Unix heritage, IFS inherits many of the Unix security vulnerabilities that hackers already know, love, and routinely exploit.

To avoid becoming hacker chum in the Internet ocean, you must understand the IFS security architecture, learn how to manipulate its security features, and establish some basic auditing functions to help you catch intrusion attempts. Along the way you’ll pick up a few handy IFS management tips, and discover some of the power IFS gives your applications - which is what makes putting up with IFS security blemishes worthwhile. To start, compare the IFS security architecture with that of i5/OS. Download the Essential Guide from iSeries Network…

Tech Tip:
Changing an *EMAIL pager to an *ALPHA pager
Has your mail server ever gone down, rendering your *EMAIL pager useless? Here’s how to set up MessengerPlus to change the default pager from an *EMAIL pager to an *ALPHA pager… Note: Your Support Central username and password are required to access this tip.

Tech Tip:
Meet Messenger’s newest monitor: the Disk Monitor
The use of abnormally large amounts of disk is often the result of other problems-such as a runaway job, extensive logging, or the installation of a new program without the addition of more storage to accommodate it. Whatever the cause, the result is never good. Running out of disk space is a serious felony on System i. Here’s how Messenger can help keep you out of trouble… Note: Your Support Central username and password are required to access this tip.

Important Notice:
e-mail and Contacting Bytware
Due to the onslaught of Spam, we are forced from time to time to change the e-mail addresses of some of our staff. Because of this, we encourage you to contact us by phone rather than e-mail whenever possible. The address that you have for your Bytware contact could be changed, resulting in the failure of your message to reach us. We want to always provide your with the very best service possible, so to be certain that your needs do not fall victim to Spam just give us a call at 775.851.2900. You can also fax us at 775.851.2995, or use the contact forms on our website at http://www.bytware.com/contact/

CONTACTING Bytware, Inc.
For sales and product inquiries, please use our online contact form.
For technical support please fill out our online support form.
If you prefer to speak to someone by phone, please call 775.851.2900, Monday - Friday, 6 am - 5 pm PST.

© 2006 Bytware, Inc.

Bytware Takes 10th Annual Webby Awards Honors

Tuesday, April 11th, 2006

RENO, Nevada—Bytware, Inc. (www.bytware.com), developer of security, monitoring, and anti-virus solutions for System i, AIX, and Linux, is pleased to announced that The Webby Awards, the leading international honor for websites, today recognized its special website “The Houston Record” as an Official Honoree, a distinction that recognizes sites exhibiting remarkable achievement. Hailed as the “Online Oscars” by Time Magazine, The Webby Awards are determined by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences, a global organization with a membership that includes musician David Bowie, Internet inventor Vinton Cerf, Naked Chef Jamie Oliver, The Body Shop president Anita Roddick, “Simpsons” creator Matt Groening, Real Networks CEO Rob Glaser, and fashion designer Max Azria.

“The Webby Awards honors the outstanding websites that are setting the standards for the Internet,” said Tiffany Shlain, founder and ambassador of The Webby Awards. “The Houston Record’s Official Honoree selection is a testament to the skill, ingenuity, and vision of its creators.”

The 10th Annual Webby Awards received a record number of entries from over 40 countries and all 50 states. Out of the over 5,500 entries submitted, fewer than 20% received this honor and were deemed Official Honorees.

About The Houston Record
The Houston Record has been a key component of Bytware’s recent marketing efforts, highlighting the dangers of insider data theft in today’s corporate world. The site revolves around a mystery game whose unique combination of security news and creative writing both inform and entertain readers while promoting Bytware’s StandGuard Security Suite and Messenger notification products. The site can be viewed at http://www.houstonrecord.com.