Kisco Information Systems announced the immediate availability of version 10.39 of SafeNet/i, the popular and industry leading solution for IBM i network security. The new release features initial support for customers using IPv6 next generation internet addressing protocol.

About the product

At its core, SafeNet/i is a network security package for the IBM i family of platforms. It uses IBM i operating system exit points to protect your system from unauthorized connections from common network sources including System i Navigator, FTP, ODBC, SQL and others. The product features complete audit tools including access logging, audit reporting and automatic notifications.

Access can be controlled through user profiles and various control parameters, such as time of day or day of week controls. Furthermore, SafeNet/i allows you to implement these controls without changing your system configuration.

First released in 1996, SafeNet/i was, at that time, the only available exit point based solution for network security. Now, twenty years and ten plus releases later, Kisco Information Systems continues to retain its position of market leadership. And, SafeNet/i has been accepted by IBM as ready for integration with IBM's Qradar security intelligence product.

New in Release 10.39

Release 10.39 of SafeNet/i now includes several major enhancements. First and foremost is the support for the next generation internet addressing protocol known as IPv6. With this change, connections to the IBM i platform made using IPv6 will have the unique IPv6 address information recorded in the transaction activity log in SafeNet/i. Reporting on this activity is also included.

Support has also been added to SafeNet/i for the newly implemented SQL verb “MERGE INTO”. SafeNet/i can now be used to control which users can use the MERGE INTO SQL function. This augments the ability in SafeNet/i that allows customers to not only control objects accessed using SQL but the specific SQL verbs (commands) that they are allowed to use.

Improvements have been added to the spool file exit point control implementation to better align it with IBM documentation for the feature. This exit point was added for customers running IBM's 7.1 i OS or higher. With this point activated, customers have improved control over network access to spool file contents.

In addition to these changes, the core exit point controls for user to server and user to object level access have been completely re-written to improve information throughput. The rewrite takes advantage of recent changes in the IBM i OS that allows the exit point processing to use significantly less system resources while processing security validations. This will result in even more efficient implementation of exit point processing.

SafeNet/i still features all of the tight security controls that have been included in it since its initial announcement. Customers can have explicit control over what network servers can be used by specific users and what objects they are allowed to work with. Additional controls provide SQL verb selection limits, FTP command usage limits, object level access controls for files and objects in the IFS and source IP address validation for network connections.

Availability

SafeNet/i is available in two versions, SafeNet/i Lite and SafeNet/i. The Lite version provides entry-level network controls allowing shops to secure server functions at the user profile level. The Lite version provides a good starting point and can later be easily upgraded to the full SafeNet/i product. The full package includes all of the Lite features plus network security to the object level. It also permits controls at the SQL verb level, CL command level, FTP command level and much more. Full support for the Web-Central browser interface is supported at this level.

Full product specs and other information, including white papers, demos and security tips are available at www.kisco.com/safenet.

Kisco Information Systems offers a free 30-day evaluation of the product. The documentation can be downloaded in PDF format from www.kisco.com. To obtain a free evaluation of SafeNet/i call Kisco at (518) 897-5002 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..