p> Computer Associates and RSA Security have released products to centralise security management and make policies easier to define and deploy. The aim is to make it simpler to implement complex data security measures.

CA's eTrust Identity and Access Management (IAM) Toolkit is a development system that lets organisations build a single method of user identity and control, said the firm. The system spans Windows, Unix, Linux and web services applications that would otherwise demand separate solutions of their own.

CA's Mike Small said, "Many organisations find themselves in a situation where each application has its own identity store, security enforcement and auditing policy, and that creates an increasing management burden over time."

The IAM Toolkit can be integrated with CA's eTrust Admin system as well as Microsoft's Active Directory, Novell eDirectory and Sun One Directory.

RSA's Bsafe Data Security Manager is a middleware system designed to integrate in-house security policies into new applications.

Alex Stervinou, senior consultant at RSA, said the software also provides a useful method of testing final applications for security vulnerabilities affecting data encryption before the apps are sent out.

Bsafe is expected to ship in late September and a licence will cost from $50,000 (£27,000).

An automated distribution module to deliver updated security policies will appear in the second version of the product, which is due at the end of this year.