The PGP Encryption Platform is not an individual product, per se, but instead represents a centralized management infrastructure on which multiple, individual product offerings from the vendor can operate. The Encryption Platform is itself installed with the first installation of any Encryption Platform-enabled vendor application that is managed by PGP Universal Server (including PGP Universal Gateway Email, PGP Desktop Email, PGP NetShare, and PGP Whole Disk Encryption, among others). Following that, additional vendor components can be implemented and utilize the Encryption Platform without requiring additional central management components.

At the heart of the PGP Encryption Platform is the PGP Universal Server, which serves as the central management component of the platform and provides deployment, user and key management, policy enforcement, and reporting capabilities. PGP Universal Server is deployed as a Linux-based soft appliance on "customer preferred" hardware (several configurations are listed on the vendor's site as compatible) or VMware ESX Servers. Universal Server is accessed through a Web-based GUI interface (Safari, IE, Firefox), supports clustered deployments, logs encryption events for monitoring (SNMP supported), and can be synchronized with existing corporate directories via LDAP.

PGP Universal Server allows for the centralized management of multiple encryption applications for use in the Enterprise, which can be installed as integrated packages or as individual applications per the organization's needs. Among the currently available applications in the PGP arsenal are:

- PGP Universal Gateway Email: A gateway offering that enables the automatic (policy-based) encryption and decryption of E-mails at the corporate gateway; the gateway can encrypt/deliver messages per defined policies and the needs of the recipients. Three "Secure Delivery" options are now available in PGP Universal Gateway E-mail: Web Messenger, which allows messages to be delivered through a Web E-mail interface (thus recipients need only a Web browser); PDF Messenger, new functionality that allows for the delivery of encrypted PDFs (recipients need only a PDF reader); and Certified Delivery, also a new feature that allows for the recording/logging of successfully delivered secure messages.

- PGP Desktop Email: A desktop component offering policy-based automated E-mail encryption. For recipients that do not have encryption capabilities, the Desktop offering allows for the creation of PGP Zip files which can be sent as an attachment.

- PGP NetShare: For the automatic encryption of shared information stored on file servers; i.e., information is automatically encrypted when it is saved to a NetShare protected folder, and remains encrypted when transferred to/from local machines.

- PGP Whole Disk Encryption: Transparent encryption of the entire contents of drives, including external or USB flash drives. This encryption covers all data, including boot sectors, system, and swap files.

Other encryption related products available from PGP Corp include the PGP Support Package for BlackBerry, which allows for the automatic encryption, signing, decryption, and verification of E-mail messages on BlackBerry devices; PGP Command Line, enabling the insertion of PGP encryption functions in existing batch scripts or backup processes; PGP Dektop Home, for E-mail and instant messaging encryption; and the PGP SDK allowing developers to integrate PGP functionality into their own applications.

The applications supporting the PGP Encryption Platform are available now. The new PDF Messenger and Certified Delivery features of Universal Gateway Email are expected later this year.

Visit the PGP Corporation Web site for further information.

product submission by EITPlanet Staff

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