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VeriSign to Deliver Strong Authentication for Windows Log-on, Outlook Web Access, Wi-Fi Networks and Remote Access on Windows-Based Desktops
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – RSA Conference 2005 – February 14, 2005 – VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN), a leading provider of intelligent infrastructure services for the Internet and telecommunications networks today announced that it is helping enhance security for Microsoft Windows network applications through integration with VeriSign Unified Authentication. This integration will help enable businesses to implement strong authentication within the Windows network environment, helping make user access more secure for Windows log-on, Outlook Web Access, Wi-Fi networks, and remote access for Windows-based desktops.
The continued growth of malicious attacks on corporate networks calls for stringent security mechanisms for computing environments. Through tight integration with VeriSign Unified Authentication, a strong authentication platform consisting of multi-purpose authentication tokens combined with highly flexible software and services, VeriSign is delivering added security inherent to two-factor authentication to Windows network applications. Strong authentication, which requires users to possess a second, physical factor such as a token or smartcard in addition to a password, is widely recognized as an important component in helping protect against the various forms of security attacks prevalent today.
The integration with VeriSign Unified Authentication (UA) specifically involves the following Windows network applications:
Beyond helping secure Windows network application access, VeriSign Unified Authentication helps deliver more value at less cost and complexity across the board for enterprises than traditional strong authentication offerings. UA consists of an open-standards based, integrated platform for provisioning and managing all types of two-factor authentication credentials. It reduces the cost of deployment and future-proofs customers against additional expenses by leveraging an enterprise's existing directory and application infrastructure as well as offering two deployment options – in the cloud or in-premise. It reduces the complexity of two-factor security and scalability through User self-service applications. UA also includes VeriSign’s family of multi-purpose authentication tokens which provide OTP, PKI and smartcard functionality. Because the system is based on standards set forth by the Initiative for Open AuTHentication (OATH), enterprises avoid the vendor lock-in and cost typical of proprietary strong authentication systems, while ensuring device choice from many OATH-compliant hardware vendors.
“VeriSign Unified Authentication provides a significant edge over traditional strong authentication offerings in terms of cost, functionality and flexibility,” said Judy Lin, executive vice president and general manager, VeriSign Security Services. “By bringing all of UA’s advantages to the Windows environment, businesses of all sizes can dramatically improve the security of their network applications without the headaches and budget drain that old-fashioned strong authentication dictated.”
“Our customers tell us that they need advanced authentication solutions for enterprise security scenarios that provide value and flexibility,” said Rich Kaplan, Corporate Vice President, Security Business and Technology Unit at Microsoft Corp. “The integration of VeriSign Unified Authentication with the Microsoft Windows platform will provide powerful options for customers in protecting their critical computing infrastructures.”
About VeriSign
VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN) delivers intelligent infrastructure services
that make the Internet and telecommunications networks more reliable
and secure. Every day VeriSign helps thousands of businesses and millions
of consumers conduct commerce and communications with confidence. Additional
news and information about the company is available at www.verisign.com.
For more information, contact:
VeriSign Media Relations: Brendan Lewis, brlewis@verisign.com,
650-426-4470
VeriSign Investor Relations: Tom McCallum, tmccallum@verisign.com,
650-426-3744
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