VeriSign to Help Enhance Security for Windows
Network Applications with Unified Authentication
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:
- Windows Log-on: Unified Authentication helps
enable secure Windows log-on through two mechanisms: smartcard Logon
(X.509 Certificates) and One Time Password (OTP). The OTP solution
is unique because it helps enable users to securely log onto their Windows
desktop inside or outside their corporate network – no password caching
or smartcard reader is required. Leveraging the unique multi-purpose
functionality provided by the VeriSign UA tokens, users can strongly
authenticate either by generating and using an OTP or by using the smartcard
option and plugging into a USB port, thus removing the need for passwords.
- Outlook Web Access: Integration of UA and the
Outlook Web-based client application enables remote employees and road
warriors to access their email with the convenience of a Web interface.
UA’s clientless One Time Password solution helps users to authenticate
and securely access their email accounts from outside their corporate
firewall, without sacrificing the clientless email experience that Microsoft
Outlook Web Access offers to small and large enterprise users.
- Wi-Fi Networks: Unified Authentication is integrated
with Microsoft’s 802.1X client, helping to increase Windows Wi-Fi network
security and protecting against malicious rogue users and devices.
- Remote Access for Windows Desktop: Through an
additional integration of UA and Citrix Metaframe, users can access
remote corporate resources from home or any external network via their
Windows-based desktop with the higher degree of security afforded by
strong authentication.
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
# # #
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.
All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their
respective owners
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