Windows Adds Rights Management Protection for Enterprise Information
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What Is RMS?
Microsoft Windows Rights Management Services (RMS) for Windows Server 2003 is information protection technology that works with RMS-enabled applications to help safeguard digital information from unauthorized use—both online and offline, inside and outside of the firewall. RMS augments an organization's security strategy by providing protection of information through persistent usage policies, which remain with the information—no matter where it goes.
Microsoft has heard from customers that they need new ways to safeguard sensitive information such as customer data, financial reports, product specifications, and confidential e-mail messages, and new ways to prevent this information from intentionally or accidentally getting into the wrong hands. RMS is the response to that need.
RMS combines Windows Server 2003 features, developer tools, and proven security technologies—including encryption, certificates, and authentication—to help create reliable information protection solutions. In addition, powerful solutions created by Microsoft technology partners extend the capabilities of RMS for specific business requirements.
How Does RMS Work?
RMS works with any information from any RMS-enabled application, giving organizations the flexibility to customize solutions to fit their specific confidential and non-disclosure policies. Information workers can choose from a variety of usage rights to define exactly how and for how long the recipient can use the information. They can define who can open, modify, print, forward and/or take other actions with the information within a limited timeframe. Organizations can create custom usage policy templates such as "Confidential—Read Only" that can be applied directly to information such as financial reports, product specifications, customer data, and e-mail messages.
RMS is a flexible and customizable technology. Support for XML allows developers to build solutions with a high level of granular rights and conditions of information protection. RMS software development kits (SDKs) give developers a simple and standard way to seamlessly integrate into existing infrastructures and application architecture. Developers can build custom RMS-enabled applications to fit the way their organization does business.
The risk of information leaks increases as more organizations use and forward information digitally. RMS helps organizations safeguard that sensitive information from unauthorized use by providing persistent protection that remains with the information—no matter where it goes.
Download a white paper about Windows Rights Management Services.
Download the Rights Management Add-on for Internet Explorer.