[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference ulysse::rdb_vms_competition

Title:DEC Rdb against the World
Moderator:HERON::GODFRIND
Created:Fri Jun 12 1987
Last Modified:Thu Feb 23 1995
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1348
Total number of notes:5438

385.0. "Sybase Secure Server" by DPDMAI::DAVISGB (Uh Oh...another Balloonist!) Tue Jul 11 1989 00:42

    The announcement note follows in response #1.
    
    
    <<< HUMAN::DISK$HUMAN_WRKD:[NOTES$LIBRARY]SECURITY_INFORMATION.NOTE;2 >>>
                 -< Digital Worldwide information on SECURITY >-
================================================================================
Note 306.2              Sybase - first B2 secure RDBMS ?                  2 of 2
16821::DAVISGB "Uh Oh...another Balloonist!"         18 lines  10-JUL-1989 18:38
                          -< Don't LOSE to SYBASE!!! >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Regarding Sybase's announcement of a secure (B2) database....
    
    1) It is marketing hype...basically the system runs under a brain-dead
    stripped down version of ultrix.  Can't talk to anything, run
    applications, compilers.  etc...
    
    2) We are active in this arena also...but *we* don't announce until
    it's something the customer can use..
    
    3) We can compete against this marketing hype.  I do it on a regular
    basis.  If anyone else runs into a competitive situation with Sybase,
    secure database etc ..,..I'd like to hear about it.
    
    Gil Davis
    South Central Area Sales Support (Databases/Oltp)
    dtn 554-7245
    
    (Also posted in Rdb_vms_competition)
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
385.1The original note (and article)DPDMAI::DAVISGBUh Oh...another Balloonist!Tue Jul 11 1989 00:4478
    <<< HUMAN::DISK$HUMAN_WRKD:[NOTES$LIBRARY]SECURITY_INFORMATION.NOTE;2 >>>
                 -< Digital Worldwide information on SECURITY >-
================================================================================
Note 306.0              Sybase - first B2 secure RDBMS ?               2 replies
KAOA01::JAMES "Al James @KAO"                        71 lines  28-MAR-1989 12:59
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Computerworld 20-mar-89 .p 29
                            [Without permission]
                                      
    Sybase claims security clearance
    
    Washington DC - Sybase Inc. ushered in a new era in computer security
    by announcing earlier this month what is said to be the first
    relational database management system with access controls designed
    to meet government standards for multi-level security.
                                
    The product "represents a major milestone in the evolution of trusted
    computer systems," said Stephen T. Walker. a former Pentagon official
    known as the father of the National Computer Security Center (NCSC). 
                             
    Sybase, located in Emeryvill, Calif., claimed that the Secure SQL
    Server gives government agancies, defence contractors and financial
    institutions the ability to store data of multiple security
    classifications in a single database.  Individual rows in data tables
    are given security lables, and users can gain access to only those
    rows that they are cleared to see, update, or delete.
    
    The Secure SQL Server is designed to meet the NCSC's B1 and B2 levels
    of security, which require discretionary and mandatory access controls.
    However, the product has not yet been evaluated or certified by
    the NCSC.  In fact, Sybase faces some risk because the NCSC standard
    for secure DBMS applications, called the Trusted Database
    Interpretation, will not be completed for another six to 12 months.
    
    Sybase officials, asserting that their product closely tracks the
    current draft of the standard, said that as the standard evolves,
    Sybase will comply with the changes.
    
    In the past, the focus of security products has been the operating
    system.  "But the wave of the future is security in the DBMS...
    because that provides more portability and more control over the
    data resource," said Larry Willets, a software analyst at IDC
    Washington, Inc., in Vienna, Va.
    
    Furthermore, having an off-the-shelf package will help users and
    contractors avoid the expensive hassle of building custom databases
    to meet security requirements, he said.
    
    "As great as the Sybase announcement is, the big deal is that we
    are seeing the birth of the third phase of relational technology:
    true control over the data resource", Willets said.  The first
    two phases were the implementation of the relational data model
    and ongoing efforts to boost performance, he said.  
    
    Although Sybase is the first to market, Willets noted that Oracle
    Corp., Relational Technology Inc., Informix Software Inc., and AT&T
    are all developing secure DBMS products for a highly competitive
    market.
    
    Initially the Secure SQL Server will be available on Digital Equipment
    Corp. VAX computers running Ultrix.
    
    Beta testing of the B1 version will begin at the end of this month
    with commercial shipments expected in the second half of this year,
    Sybase said.  The B2 version will be available sometime in 1990,
    the vendor said.
    
    The price is $20,000 to $200,000 depending on CPU size. 

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              
    Comments please...

    Is this a technology breakthrough or marketing hype?
    
    What is Digital's response?