APPLE ANNOUNCES SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS TO A/UX 3.0 UNIX OPERATING SYSTEM

PR Newswire

March 31, 1992

               APPLE ANNOUNCES SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS 

                  TO A/UX 3.0 UNIX OPERATING SYSTEM 

    WASHINGTON, March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Apple Computer Inc. (NASDAQ-NMS: APPL), today announced the development of A/UX 3.0 Secure, a C2 level secure version of its popular A/UX operating system.  A/UX 3.0 Secure is developed in accordance with the Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria (TCSEC) published by the Department of Defense, and is targeted at the C2 level of trust, as defined by the TCSEC and the National Computer Security Center.  A/UX 3.0 is Apple's latest version of the industry standard UNIX operating system for the Apple Macintosh computer. 

    A/UX 3.0 Secure uses a more rigorous set of security features built upon standard A/UX 3.0 for users who require more than the base level of security found in the UNIX operating system.  A/UX 3.0 Secure provides comprehensive password protection and audit security enhancements.  The security enhancements include discretionary access control mechanisms that incorporate a trusted Identification and Authentication (A&I) subsystem that is enforced when a user logs into the Macintosh.  It also includes a comprehensive audit subsystem of subject/object processes and security relevant events.  The user I&A incorporates Macintosh standards of quality and ease-of-use, making the secure log-in feature transparent to A/UX users. 

    "Apple is taking a leadership position in developing computer security products to complement our superior Macintosh ease-of-use, which is very important to our customers in the federal government," said Greg Shuk, director of Apple's Federal Systems Group located in Reston, Va.  "Today's announcement confirms our commitment to meeting and exceeding government and industry standards with A/UX as the foundation for our open systems strategy." 

    Apple purchased the C2 level security software from SecureWare Inc., of Atlanta.  SecureWare originally developed the C2 enhancements to be portable across a variety of UNIX platforms and is the approved vendor of security technology for Open Software Foundation's OSF/1 operating system. 

    John Kullmann, director of A/UX Product Development for Apple's Enterprise Systems Division said:  "With A/UX 3.0 Secure, we are offering a UNIX-based operating system that provides secure system access transparently to its users.  A/UX 3.0 Secure behaves just like a Macintosh, with the same intuitive graphical user interface of our Macintosh System 7, while incorporating secure UNIX features and functionality.  As part of our enterprise systems strategy, we will continue to incorporate innovative and powerful technologies into A/UX as it evolves into the PowerOpen computing environment." 

    The PowerOpen computing environment is a new open-systems environment created by the recent Apple, IBM and Motorola alliance. This will offer customers and developers an easy-to-use, standards- based, high-performance operating environment that will be available on a wide range of computers from high-volume desktop computers to large enterprise servers.  It will incorporate the best features of Apple's A/UX, IBM's AIX and the Open Software Foundation's OSF/1 operating systems. 

    A/UX 3.0 Secure is built on top of Apple's implementation of AT&T's UNIX System V operating system.  It complies with open systems standards established by government and industry, such as IEEE POSIX, FIPS-151, SVVS, SVID, NFS and X Window System.  A/UX 3.0 integrates the Macintosh interface with the power and functionality of industry- standard UNIX, and adds new features. 

    A/UX 3.0 gives users access to the intuitive Macintosh desktop within the industry-standard UNIX environment.  With A/UX, users can simultaneously run multiple Macintosh productivity applications, UNIX applications, X Window System applications, OSF/Motif (from Integrated Computer Solutions) and MS-DOS applications (using SoftPC from Insignia Solutions, Inc.) on one desktop. 

    Configurations 

    A/UX 3.0 Secure will be available as a stand alone CD-ROM product, which will include one year A/UX phone support and essential documentation.  A minimum of 8MB of RAM is recommended. 

    Pricing/Availability 

    A/UX 3.0 Secure will be available in the fourth calender quarter of 1992.  Pricing will be announced at a later date. 

    -0-                        3/31/92 

    /NOTE:  Apple, Macintosh and A/UX are registered trademarks, and System 7 is a trademark, all of Apple Computer, Inc. 

    X Window System is a trademark of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

    IBM and AIX are registered trademarks, and PowerOpen is a trademark, all of International Business Machines Corporation. 

    OSF/1 and OSF/Motif are trademarks of the Open Software Foundation. 

    NFS is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. 

    UNIX is a registered trademark of UNIX System Laboratories. 

    SoftPC is a registered trademark of Insignia Solutions, Inc./ 

    /CONTACT:  Rick Myllenbeck of Apple Computer, Inc., 703-264-5155/ 

    (APPL) CO:  Apple Computer, Inc; IBM; Motorola; UNIX Systems Laboratories ST:  Virginia IN:  CPR SU:  PDT