Oracle, IBM update identity management packages

Oracle and IBM on Tuesday both re-enforced their identity management software offerings with new features and functions.

The Oracle Identity Management suite is an update and integration of the technology Oracle acquired when it purchased Oblix in March. The suite can now run across operating systems, directories, application servers and applications from different vendors, according to Amit Jasuja, vice president of development at Oracle.

"This is an important release for us because it shows how committed we are to running disparate programs," Jasuja said.

Prior to purchasing Oblix, Oracle had only some basic identity management products that were limited to working on Oracle systems. Oblix provided Oracle with a comprehensive authentication and authorization framework that hooked into data and applications from third-party vendors.

The new suite can run on IBM databases, SAP applications, and Microsoft's LDAP directory. In its previous version, the suite only ran on Oracle applications and databases.

Available now, the suite is part of Oracle's larger Fusion Middleware portfolio, which also includes 10g Application Server, Oracle Collaboration Suite, and Data Hubs.

IBM, for its part, added new software to its Tivoli Identity Manager Version 4.6 to help companies securely manage user accounts and access to passwords. The software also offers a new policy simulation feature that allows IT managers to try out "what if" scenarios when changing security policies.

IBM also added new identity management services to help businesses prevent fraud and identity theft by verifying and validating identities.

IBM Tivoli Identity Manager Version 4.6 will be generally available in the third quarter of this year.