For secure integrated network host
By Fauziah Muhtar
4th March 2002 (Computimes)

WITH Linux in the limelight, many related products are making their way into the market. Infeneum Systems Sdn Bhd, a local company specialising in network infrastructure and security consulting, has released the enterprise version of its Infeneum Secure Linux called Infeneum Secure Professional.

Infeneum Secure Professional is a suite of multipurpose Internet connection platform that provides security tools and features for safe online access. It is actually an extension from the company's flagship - Infeneum Secure Linux - which is a hardened Webserver operating system for firewall.

Chief executive officer Mustapa Khan said the Infeneum Secure Professional package incorporates Infeneum Secure Linux, Web server, mail server, domain name system (DNS) server, secure socket shell (SSH) and OpenSSL.

"The package offers features such as easy-to-use Web-based management, robust host and network intrusion detection solution (IDS), including Web-based Tripwire, host integrity database, and manage unlimited DNS."

Infeneum Secure Professional includes a gateway firewall such as network address translation and port forwarding as part of an integrated network and host IDS.

The core component of the suite is Infeneum Secure Linux. It is claimed to be a secure distribution of Linux engineered from the ground up to provide organisations with the level of security required to create a corporate Web presence or even conduct electronic business (e-business) on the Web.

"It can be used as a Web, DNS, e-mail (electronic mail), database, e-commerce and general Internet server where security is a primary concern," Mustapa said.

Infeneum Secure Linux is secured by default, built in with own host-based IDS (guardian monitor) to detect and prevent, and it also comes with the kernel protection module, namely Linux Intrusion Detection System (LIDS).

With the LIDS, the company added that Infeneum Secure Linux is able to provide an extra level of protection for Linux systems over and above traditional security methods. It is a kernel patch and administrator tool that provides file protection, process protection, kernel-based port scan detection, and the ability to seal the kernel so that no one (including root) can insert modules into it or access special devices such as memory and input/output.

The company is offering a secure solution by using Infeneum Secure Linux either as an e-commerce platform, Internet and intranet solution, or a platform for secure application development to enable developers to launch any application that supports Linux.

For the e-commerce platform, Infeneum Secure Professional provides a suite of applications to create thousands of virtual Web sites, manage e-mail, DNS, and database functions for the entire organisation.

It supports high-speed broadband connections using the Web front-end.

"While the integrated gateway firewall provides network address translation and port forwarding, it creates a perfect solution for organisations to get online quickly and securely," Mustapa said.

As an Internet and intranet solution, companies can deploy the Infeneum Secure Professional expansion module to provide intranet collaboration functions such as Windows file and print sharing, Webmail, file system and user quota support, virtual private network (VPN) support using point-to-point tunneling protocol (PPTP), and Internet protocol (IP) network management using dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP).

"The ability to create a Windows domain controller and manage hundreds of users marks Infeneum Secure Linux as a secure and complete Microsoft Windows replacement," Mustapa said.

Currently, Infeneum Secure Linux is being used by two large financial software houses in India and one of the largest banks in the United States and Malaysia. "The solution can be used by government, banking and other security-sensitive companies," Mustapa said.

The company claimed that the Infeneum solutions are 40 per cent cheaper in both software and hardware bundling. Currently, Infeneum Secure Linux is bundled in Sun's Cobalt machine.

The company is looking for a strategic partners for direct distribution. It is also giving a two-week trial period to interested companies to test the system.

By third quarter this year, the company plans to introduce its wireless intrusion detection system for mobile devices.