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VeriSign Expands Security Alliance with IBM to Champion Stronger Identity Management

Companies Collaborate on Standards, Products to Foster Safe and Secure Online Business Transactions

DENVER, CO. – DIGITAL ID WORLD 2004 -- October 26, 2004 - VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN,) the leading provider of intelligent infrastructure services for the Internet and telecommunications networks, today announced it has expanded their global security alliance with IBM to offer customers a more cost-effective way to provide employees, customers, and partners with safe and effective access to business networks.

VeriSign Unified Authentication and IBM’s Tivoli identity management software products will now work in tandem to simplify the user provisioning, strengthen authentication and authorize corporate users and consumers across networks or applications.  Additionally, both companies have agreed to pursue standards for strong authentication as set forth by the initiative for Open AuTHentication (OATH), whose mission is to drive the ubiquity of strong authentication technology through an open-standards based approach.

“Strong Authentication” refers to solutions that employ a second level of security, such as combining a Personal Identification Number (PIN) with a software or hardware token to form a unique two-factor based credential that validates a user's identity when accessing Web, network or software applications. Through the integration of VeriSign’s and IBM’s products, enterprises can reduce the costs and complexity associated with deploying strong authentication.

With IBM Tivoli Identity Manager software, IT administrators can now issue, change and revoke VeriSign tokens, One Time Passwords (OTP) and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) digital certificates as they would a simple user ID and password -- a process called user provisioning.  Additionally, IBM Tivoli Access Manager software can provide an automated mechanism to grant or deny access to business applications and data based on identity.

Announced in September 2004, VeriSign Unified Authentication is a software and services platform that uses a new family of multi-purpose authentication tokens that address all strong authentication needs with a single solution, while integrating with an enterprise’s existing IT infrastructure.

“Through this collaboration, VeriSign and IBM Tivoli are giving enterprises a more cost-effective means to provide employees, customers, and partners with secure and effective access to corporate networks,” said Nico Popp, vice president, authentication services, VeriSign Security Services.  “IBM Tivoli and VeriSign bring complementary solutions to the table. By working together, we can help propel the industry towards federated identity management that utilizes open standards.”

“Providing an effective and efficient way to extend strong authentication, both to the immediate enterprise and beyond, can enable trusted relationships that enable on demand business,” said Joe Anthony, program director, Integrated Identity Management, IBM.  “By using open standards and interoperable technology, our customers can address core business security issues, such as compliance and cost.”

VeriSign also today released a whitepaper entitled Trusted Federated Identity Solution Reference Architecture.  The paper underlines the need for establishing trust between all parties within a federated identity network and emphasizes the importance of strongly authenticating end-users to enable the meaningful sharing of identities across partners.  A copy of the whitepaper is available at http://www.verisign.com/static/016543.pdf

For More information about VeriSign Unified Authentication, visit http://www.verisign.com/products-services/security-services/pki/unified-authentication/index.html

For more information about IBM’s business security offerings, visit www.ibm.com/security.

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 http://www.verisign.com.

For more information, contact: 
VeriSign Media Relations: Brendan P. Lewis, brlewis@verisign.com, 650-426-4470 
VeriSign Investor Relations: Tom McCallum, tmccallum@verisign.com, 650-426-3744

Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause VeriSign's actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainty of future revenue and profitability and potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results due to such factors as the risk that VeriSign's announced strategic relationships, including the relationship described herein, may not result in additional products, services, customers, profits or revenues; and increased competition and pricing pressures. More information about potential factors that could affect the company's business and financial results is included in VeriSign's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. VeriSign undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

IBM and Tivoli are trademarks or registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States, others countries, or both. All other company, product or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.

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