EAST PALO ALTO, Calif.—IBM on June 22 released two new free software security tools for Java software developers—one that improves protection of data moving through Java-based network applications and another that automatically embeds data encryption at its origin point.

IBM has made the tools available for free download via AlphaWorks, its developer-oriented Web site that offers free software tools.

Stuart McIrvine, IBM director of corporate security strategy and a speaker at an SDForum security conference here, said that these new tools are part of Big Blue's renewed effort toward bringing more security process management tools to a greater number of developers.

"Our customers are concerned, because they believe cyber-criminals are organized, and they aren't," McIrvine said.

"So we see as a growth opportunity the federated identification space—which is sort of like having an international passport that many countries trust."

The IBM Secure Shell Library for Java automatically encrypts data—including passwords and other information within files—as it moves from device to device, whether it be a desktop, mainframe or handheld computer.

It is built upon the SSH (secure shell) industry reference standard for secure data transmission.

IBM, of Armonk, N.Y., also released Security Workbench Development Environment for Java so developers can configure and validate Java applications that support both Java and the OSGI (Open Services Gateway Initiative) industry security standards, an IBM spokesperson said.

This article was originally published on eWEEK.com.