Novell Launches Worldwide eBusiness Security Initiative

• New IDC study champions security as catalyst for a successful eBusiness strategy
• Dynamic eSecurity strategy can dramatically increase revenues from eBusiness

Novell, Inc., the leading provider of Net services software, today launched a worldwide eBusiness security initiative that brings together industry-leading products, partners, consulting and education programs to help companies overcome security challenges to a successful eBusiness strategy. Novell launched this new initiative in conjunction with a new study released today by IDC "Managing Secure eBusiness," which highlights how a dynamic eSecurity strategy can dramatically increase revenues for companies.

According to IDC, the explosion of eCommerce, forecast to reach US $1.6 trillion by 2003, is offering organizations of all sizes new opportunities for growth. The potential customer base from the Internet is growing dramatically - from 327 million online users in 2000 to 600 million users in 2003. Organizations must open up their systems to unprecedented levels of users. However, they must also invest more in security. Current IDC research shows over 75% of companies spend less than 10% of their IT budget on security initiatives.

According to the IDC research, commissioned by Novell, the next phase of eBusiness will be driven by electronic relationships and eCommunities. This validates Novell's one Net vision -- enabling companies to break down traditional network boundaries to create new interactions with partners, suppliers, employees, and customers. Using Net services software from Novell and industry-leading partners, consulting firms and education programs, companies can dramatically accelerate their transformation to eBusiness by adopting an eSecurity policy around controlled, managed access throughout a distributed environment.

"The research findings from IDC show security is the main inhibitor in moving to an eBusiness environment for many companies," said Steve Adams, senior vice-president of worldwide marketing at Novell. "Novell and its partners are actively addressing the security problems companies are facing by launching this comprehensive eBusiness security initiative to help companies better understand the risks involved and mechanisms that deliver the best solution. The utilization of a full-service directory service, like Novell's NDS eDirectory, provides the foundation for the most effective and efficient centralized security system available. Through the use of the directory and other Net service software from Novell and its partners, security policies can be set and managed by one central administrator, no matter how decentralized an organization is."

 

Overcoming Security Challenges that are Barriers to a Successful eBusiness Strategy

By opening up internal systems to partners, customers and suppliers, eBusiness can significantly reduce costs while increasing revenue. Novell is today capable of supplying the necessary technologies for the dynamic eSecurity policies outlined by IDC, cementing its position as the leading provider of Net services software.

Pim Bilderbeek, vice-president at IDC said, "In the past, attitudes about security have been based on the cost of installation, offset against the likely negative cost implication of a security breach. However, as market dynamics change between an organization, its partners, customers and employees, the business pressure to extend online access suggests that security actually enables new kinds of business process."

We believe enlightened organizations are beginning to regard the security of their systems not as an insurance policy, but as a competitive advantage," continued Bilderbeek . "This is the right approach if businesses are to take full advantage of the new market dynamics brought about by eBusiness. By creating trusted business platforms, an organization can maintain high degrees of flexibility and launch new initiatives very quickly, without being constrained by poor security."

See accompanying fact sheet for more information.

 

About Novell

Novell, Inc. (NASDAQ:NOVL), is the leading provider of Net services software that delivers services to secure and power all types of networks--the Internet, intranets, and extranets; wired to wireless; corporate and public--across leading operating systems. Novell's Net services software provides the foundation for one Net--a single global network that supports new applications and forms of business. Worldwide channel, consulting, education and technical support programs, along with strategic alliances, combine Novell Net services software with third-party products and services to form complete Net solutions.

For information on Novell's complete range of products and services, contact Novell's Customer Response Center at (888) 321-4CRC (4272), or visit Novell's Web site at https://www.novell.com. Press may access Novell announcements and company information on the World Wide Web at https://www.novell.com/pressroom. In addition, detailed comparisons between Novell products and competitive offerings from other vendors are available on the Web at https://www.novell.com/competitive.

 

About IDC

IDC delivers dependable, high-impact insights and advice on the future of eBusiness, the Internet, and technology to help organizations make sound business decisions. IDC forecasts worldwide markets and trends and analyses business strategies, technologies, and vendors, using a combination of rigorous primary research and in-depth competitive analysis. IDC provides global research with local content through more than 600 analysts in 43 countries worldwide. IDC's customers comprise the world's leading IT suppliers, IT organizations, eBusiness companies, and the financial community. Additional information can be found at http://www.idc.com.

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