SECURITY SYSTEMS ARE spreading roots deeper into network processes, leveraging directory and policy control to halt a growing breed of internal computer threats. Novell, NetIQ and NetScreen Technologies are weighing in with products that integrate with internal assets.

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Next week, Novell will announce Novell SecureAccess, a directory-focused integrated security suite featuring centralized user identity management and access control across multiple platforms, said Gabriel Waters, product manager of access and security solutions at Provo, Utah-based Novell. The suite unifies and securely manages network resources through single sign-on access to applications, databases, and platforms for Web-based, wireless, remote, and client-based users.

Novell SecureAccess includes a bundled package of Novell SecureLogin -- the 3.0 product upgrade being announced next week -- NDS Authentication Services, Novell iChain, Novell eDirectory, Novell Modular Authentication Service, and Novell BorderManager.

According to Waters, products within the SecureAccess suite are modular and do not require Novell eDirectory to run.

"This isn't a rip-and-replace proposition. We'll come in with our suite and unify systems, tie them back to third-party products, and fill in the [security] gaps," Waters said.

Facing the daunting task of managing passwords and browser-based single sign-on for its massive member list presented the difficulty of leveraging existing infrastructure resources, said Troy Aswege, assistant vice president at Blue Cross/Blue Shield of North Dakota.

"[With multiple systems in tow] it doesn't take long before you have a security nightmare and the first thing you fear is some guy with a password written under his keyboard," said Aswege, a Novell SecureAccess customer. "Pushing [security] down into the network is a good business decision."

Based in Fargo, N.D., the health care provider runs IBM and Unisys mainframes and Unix RS 6000, Novell NT, and Linux systems. The organization uses Novell 's eDirectory and iChain products to secure Web applications and data for customers, Aswege said.

Novell SecureAccess is available Monday and is being offered at $159 per user through June 2002.

NetIQ is zeroing in on a directory's relationship with security as well, targeting Microsoft Windows Active Directory customers with the debut of its Directory Security Administrator product next week.

NetIQ Directory Security Administrator lets users view, search, and modify Active Directory Control Lists to assign rights and privileges for groups, objects, or domains, said Dave Peterson, senior product manager at San Jose, Calif.-based NetIQ.

Also, NetIQ will announce that through a licensing agreement it has integrated FullArmor's FAZAM 2000 (Full Armor Zero Administration for Windows 2000) product into its NetIQ Administration Suite, Advanced Edition, naming it Group Policy Administrator.

NetIQ Administration Suite 2.0, featuring NetIQ Group Policy Administrator, will be available on Monday with pricing starting at $30 per user. Group Policy Administrator can be purchased separately for $9 per user.

Responsibility to halt internal security attacks such as Trojan horses and worms that bypass anti-virus and intrusion detection defenses falls on the shoulders of firewall vendors at the Internet gateway, said Richard Stiennon, research director at Stamford, Conn.-based Gartner.

Stiennon said enterprises must employ a "departmentalized" approach to trap and contains attacks at network segments between business units, partners, and even desktops.

This week, NetScreen Technologies topped off its IPO plunge by unveiling four new hardware appliances and its upgraded Screen OS software platform to offer improved policy control, segmentation, and VPN connectivity for users, said David Flynn, vice president of marketing for the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based security hardware vendor.

Flynn said the new version of Screen OS allows users to independently activate firewall and DoS (denial of service) protection on all the physical interfaces on NetScreen appliances, as well as to establish or terminate VPN tunnels from any connection point.