Symark PowerBroker 4.0 Introduces New Logging Functionality and Advanced Report Writer to Support Compliance Requirements and Reduce Costs
Released on = November 8, 2005, 5:45 pm
Press Release Author = Ellen Libenson
Industry = Software
Press Release Summary = Symark, developer of leading UNIX/Linux security and
administration solutions, today announced PowerBroker 4.0, which introduces the
ability to deploy command shells that provide powerful extended control and logging.
In addition, a GUI report writer has been added, which greatly facilitates event log
reporting. PowerBroker provides UNIX and Linux systems security and accountability
by enabling system administrators to manage requests and delegate administrative
task privileges and authorization without disclosing the “superuser” or root
password. It also enables system administrators to grant selective access to UNIX
and Linux-based corporate resources.
Press Release Body = AGOURA HILLS, Calif. – November 7, 2005 – Symark, developer of
leading UNIX/Linux security and administration solutions, today announced
PowerBroker 4.0, which introduces the ability to deploy command shells that provide
powerful extended control and logging. In addition, a GUI report writer has been
added, which greatly facilitates event log reporting. PowerBroker provides UNIX and
Linux systems security and accountability by enabling system administrators to
manage requests and delegate administrative task privileges and authorization
without disclosing the “superuser” or root password. It also enables system
administrators to grant selective access to UNIX and Linux-based corporate
resources.
PowerBroker protects the root account—the most targeted user account—from hackers
who could remove critical system files, gain access to confidential data, and delete
audit trails. Administrative tasks such as system programs mounting, performing
backups, and adding new users can be delegated to individuals or groups at a
granular level, thus reducing the risk of accidental damage and the threat of
malicious activities thus dramatically increasing enterprise security.“Organizations are looking to implement access management solutions to meet
regulatory compliance, improve operational efficiency, and contain costs,” said Doug
Yarrow, Symark’s president and co-CEO. “PowerBroker offers organizations a
cost-effective, non-intrusive, and secure tool for managing root privileges and
meeting regulatory requirements. The enhanced shell, GUI report writer, logging, and
security capabilities of version 4.0 make PowerBroker a valuable component of a
robust and secure UNIX/Linux privilege management infrastructure.”
PowerBroker can control accounts with any elevated privilege, such as ORACLE and
SAP. PowerBroker also provides a detailed audit trail of all tasks down to the
keystroke that helps organizations pass UNIX and Linux audits and ensure regulatory
compliance. PowerBroker 4.0 is shipping now and will be demoed at the CSI 32nd
Annual Computer Security Conference and Exhibition in Washington DC November 13-15,
2005.
PowerBroker Version 4.0
PowerBroker 4.0 provides two variations of the standard Korn and Bourne shells. The
Korn shell provides a convenient user interface for interactive sessions, while the
Bourne shell provides a fast interface for scripts without the overhead of the
interactive user interface. The shells provide PowerBroker security for shell
scripts, log all shell activity, control shell built-in commands and I/O
redirection, provide sub-shell control and the ability to authorize commands by a
PowerBroker MasterDaemon, and enable commands to be run either locally or through a
PowerBroker Local Daemon.
To further facilitate compliance, PowerBroker 4.0 offers several logging
improvements. A new retry limit allows the script writer to stop waiting for a
server that is no longer in service. Failover prioritizes log servers based on the
number of failures during the secured task, while event logs in CSV and XML format
facilitate data exchange with other programs. With support for I/O logging for local
mode, PowerBroker 4.0 obviates the need for a log server while eliminating log
server reconnections for improved performance and less network overhead.
PowerBroker 4.0 introduces a powerful report writer that provides an easy way to
report on the PowerBroker Event Logs, which eases the generation of compliance and
audit reports. The report writer incorporates a web-based GUI with a wizard style
workflow to make event log reporting simple and straightforward.
Additional enhancements in PowerBroker 4.0 include a new PAM client interface, which
allows PowerBroker to easily work with local accounts, NIS/NIS+ accounts, LDAP
accounts, and any current or future accounts supported in PAM. Security improvements
guard against host spoofing, provide greater control over remote jobs, and make it
easier to identify the host from which a job originated. New resource limits in
PowerBroker 4.0 control how much of a computer’s resources a job can use, while
improved environmental diagnostics make it easier for administrators to diagnose
their setup. Connectivity enhancements not only allow PowerBroker to be run on a
specific interface for greater control and to further limit spoofing and errors but
they also enable programs to be run without a network. In addition, with version
4.0, PowerBroker now supports Ipv6 and Unix Local Domain Sockets.
About Symark
Founded in 1985, Symark is the leading provider of UNIX and Linux security solutions
for Global 2000 businesses. Symark PowerBroker® enables granular delegation of
administrative (root) privileges while providing session keystroke logging. Symark
PowerPassword®, User Management Edition provides centralized user account management
along with login and password security policies. Symark PowerKeeper® provides
storage and secure access of administrative passwords for UNIX/Linux, Windows,
applications, and network devices. All three products offer central administration
and detailed audit logs. Symark offers extensive expertise in enterprise computing
security, and our products are backed by unmatched technical support. For more
information, visit us at www.symark.com.
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NOTE TO EDITORS: If you would like additional information on Symark and its
products, please view the Symark web site at http://www.symark.com.
Symark, the Symark logo, PowerPassword, PowerBroker, and PowerKeeper are trademarks
or registered trademarks, in the United States and certain other countries, of
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registered trademarks of the individual companies and are respectfully acknowledged.
Web Site = http://www.symarksoftware.com
Contact Details = 30401 Agoura Rd., Suite 200
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
USA
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