Russian software vendor Arsenal released a new version of one of its flagship products, the Lexicon word processor. The company is a specialist in office software and promotes the entire family of its products under the "Russian Office" trademark.

The new version of the product, dubbed Lexicon-Verba, supports two principal security features, document encryption and digital signature. It was developed in close cooperation with Techinformconsulting company, an expert in information protection. Specialists of both companies say that the product is one-of-a-type in its class and has no analogues at the software market. It is also worth mentioning that the solution is approximately five times cheaper (per workplace) than the nearest comparable competitors.

Lexicon-Verba is a full-featured word processor with modern graphic interface. It supports files in proprietary Lexicon format, as well as in other popular formats like RTF, MS Word 6/95/97, MS Write, etc. According to Arsenal officials, the secure version of the application allows to set access rights for different users separately, provides the authenticity of the in-company documents, and increases the entire level of security of the enterprise information system. In other words, it provides solution for the most complex problems of confidential document management within the system. Data protection is based on Verba-O cryptographic system, certified by Federal Agency for Governmental Communications and Information (FAPSI) of Russian Federation.

The documents created in Lexicon-Verba may be encrypted so that only the user owning the corresponding key could read it. Keys may be stored at various types of media, e.g., smart cards, touch memory devices, diskettes, etc. Once the user registers himself for access to confidential document, he encounters virtually no further differences between processing of secure and non-secure documents; all encryption is done transparently for the user.

On top of that, the document may be certified by one or a few digital signatures. Once it is signed, no changes can be done in it without destroying the signature. Thus, a secure and reliable system for confidential document management can be built.

The product is addressed, first of all, to large corporate users and governmental structures. A number of companies and organizations has already expressed interest in Lexicon-Verba evaluation, even in spite of the fact that certificates from a number of governmental institutions should be obtained prior to its full-scale deployment in critical systems. Certification process is expected to be completed by the second half of May 1999.

Source: InfoArt News Agency

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