Verisign
VeriSign is an Internet infrastructure service providing company. It is s based in Mountain View, CA and was founded in 1995. VeriSign has offices in California, DC, Indiana and also Europe, Japan, India, Brazil, China, Australia, Switzerland, Uk etc.
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| Type: | Public |
| Industry: | Internet, Communications |
| Founded: | USA (1995) |
| Founder(s): | Jim Bidzos |
| Headquarters: | 487 East Middlefield Road, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA |
| Employees: | 2,225 |
| Revenue: | $1.5 billion USD (2007) |
| Website: | http://www.verisign.com/ |
| Key People | |
| Mark McLaughlin, CEO D. James Bidzos, Chairman | |
VeriSign provides naming services and authentication services. The naming services include the provision of authoritative directory of various .com, .net, .cc, .tv, .name, .jobs, and .edu domain names.The authentication services includes business authentication services such as implementing and operating secure networks, utilizing Secure Socket Layer protocol, encrypting transactions and communications and User authentication such identity protection , fraud detection, and public key infra structure etc.[1]
History
In 1995, RSA pioneered two-factor authentication and encryption and VerSign was founded as a 'spin-off' of the RSA security technology to act as an certificate authority (CA). [2]
In May 2005 VeriSign introduced a new 2048 bit VeriSign Class 3 Secure Server CA which was used to sign Secure Site Certificates obtained from thier website for IIS web servers.[3]
In June 1995 VeriSign announced partnerships with Apple Computer Inc. and Netscape Communications Corp to implement VeriSign's Digital IDs in thier software product. [4]
VeriSign appointed Stratton D. Sclavos as the president and CEO in August 1995.[5]
Verisgn introduced the first online digital certificate issue system in Janurary 1996, at the at the RSA Data Security Conference in San Francisco.[6]. VerSign also announced an agreement with Terisa Systems to develop a new and complete internet security solution about that time. [7]
Secure Email was launched January 1996. VeriSign lunched Code Signing with Microsoft in March 1996. In August, 2996, Microsoft and VeriSign announced the availability of client authentication technology for Microsoft IE users by using VeriSign Digital IDs. [8] In 1997, the First Internet Commerce Transactions Linking Europe, Asia and the United States was conducted by Verifone and VeriSign.[9]
United States Department of Commerce approved VeriSign's plans to issue new VeriSign Global Server IDs in June 1997 allowing 128-bit encryption.[10]
In July, 1997, Versign acquired by SecureIT, a Network Security Service providing company. [11]
In 1997, VesiSign filed to raise $40 million for its public stock.[12]. On January 10, 1998, Versign went public.[13]
VeriSign announced to divest its slower growing units and invest more on Web site-naming and Internet security services on November 2007. [14] Report shown these steps had cuthalf of its employeers.
In October, 1998, VeriSign releases a fully integrated PKI platform OnSite 4.0. [15]
VeriSign offered Y2k testing certs for free in November 1998. In December 1998, VeriSign introduced introduced digital certificate service for Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) servers and gateways. [16]
VeriSign aquires Thawte Consulting and Signio in 1999. [17]. In march, 2007, versign aquires Network Solutions for about 21 billion. [18] VerSign also aquires GreatDomains.com in October 2000, eNIC Corporation and the .cc registry in 31, 2001, Illuminet in December 2001, HO Systems in 2002. Versign sold Network Solution in November, 2003 to Pivotal Private Equity for about 100 million.[19] Versign then aquires Guardent in 2003 and Unimobile and Jamba in 2004.
In Januray 2005, VerSign buys wireless photo messaging firm LightSurf for about $ 270. [20]. VerSign purchases purchased R4 Global Solutions in May 2005. [21]. Verisgn buys Lightbridge, an ecommerce company, in May 2005.[22]. In July 2005, VeriSign aquires security intelligence specialist iDefense for $40 Million. [23].
In Novemver, 2005, VeriSign's payment gateway business, paypal, was sole to ebay for approximately $370 million cash and acquisition costs. [24].
VeriSign anounced acquisition of Kontiki for 62 million in March 2006.ZDNet.com</ref>. Acquisition of GeoTrust Inc., for $125 was announced in May 2006. [25]. Versign aquired inCode wireless in November, 2006.[26].
VeriSign Introduces Extended Validation SSL Certificates, standard practices for certificate validation and display approved by a group of leading SSL Certificate Authorities (CAs) and browser vendors in December 2006.[27].
In May, 2009, Stratton Sclavos stepped down from his positions as CEO of VeriSign and William Roper Jr. was named for that position.[28]. Later, Jim Bidzos, the founder of VeriSign was appointed as the CEO and President.[29]
In 2008, VeriSign sold its global Digital Brand Management Services business for US$50 million to MelbourneIT.[30]
Products and Services
Versign Provides its services through two division, Internet Services division and Security Service Division.
Internet Services division includes Naming & Directory Services such as domain name registration for .com and .net and DNS-related and RFID services.
Versign sold its Security Services to Symantec in May 2010 for 1.28 billion. VeriSign's security services included managing security services such firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention, vulnerability protection, etc. It also provided global security consulting, email security, authentication and digital certificate/SSL validation business such as Extended Validation (High Assurance) SSL Certificates.
Selling Authentication Services Business to Symantec
VeriSign's logo, a check mark and the tag "VeriSign Secured" is one of the most trusted trademark of secured website. Even though providing internet security was the primary objective of the company, over time VeriSign shifted its priority to website management and domain registration business.
VeriSign sold a number of its security businesses in last couple of years. Finally in May 2010, Versign sold its entire division sells security technology to websites to Symantic for 1.28 million.
Because of this deal, Symantic now has the right to VeriSign's logo and "VeriSign Secured" tag for SSL certification.
References
- ↑ Yahoo! Finance
- ↑ RSA
- ↑ VeriSign
- ↑ bnet
- ↑ AllBusiness.com
- ↑ Reference for Business
- ↑ High Beam
- ↑ Microsft.com
- ↑ Highbeam.com
- ↑ University of Columbia
- ↑ The Free Library
- ↑ Cnet.com
- ↑ Finding Universe
- ↑ reuters
- ↑ The Free Library
- ↑ Wap Forum.org
- ↑ ZDNnet
- ↑ CNNMoney
- ↑ Info World
- ↑ CNet
- ↑ Pharmamanufacturing.com
- ↑ News Blaze.com
- ↑ Silicon.com
- ↑ Paypal-Media.com
- ↑ Net Craft.com
- ↑ Compliance and Privacy
- ↑ VeriSign.com
- ↑ Domain Tools.blog
- ↑ IT Knowledge Exchange
- ↑ The Web Host Industry Review