Thales today announced that SafeSign, its end-to-end solution for identity management, user authentication and transaction security, now supports all VASCO Digipass tokens. Through its flexible architecture, SafeSign is able to authenticate transactions and verify the identity of individuals using VASCO’s Digipass tokens across multiple applications.
Thales’ SafeSign provides customers with a single, central authentication platform with the ability to authenticate users with different security and authentication requirements. This ensures that the most appropriate level of security is applied to the different types of transaction. SafeSign can authenticate users and transactions regardless of channel and for a range of identity solutions, including PKI certificates, smart cards, USB tokens, handheld tokens and biometrics. SafeSign can now authenticate transactions using any VASCO Digipass, further increasing the flexibility of SafeSign, and offering customers a strategic and cost-effective route to comprehensive online security and fraud reduction. The flexibility of SafeSign also enables users to add new authentication requirements as and when required, using all types of technology including VASCO.
Using the system is simple. The user will login to a service, using the Vasco Digipass token to authenticate himself, in order to access the required service. Once the user has gained access to the service, SafeSign can also strongly authenticate any transactions made using that service. The Vasco authentication could be in the form of a one-time-password, challenge-response or electronic signature, depending on the level of security required. Thales’ SafeSign sits behind the application and verifies the Vasco authentication method used to securely validate user identities and digitally sign business transactions.
Paul Meadowcroft, head of transaction security at Thales, stated: “ The issue of identity management and authentication is becoming increasingly important, particularly as online transactions become ever more popular. Organisations such as banks, governments, pharmaceuticals and healthcare companies are faced with an array of different security risks. Thales’ support of VASCO tokens shows our commitment to providing the widest range of transaction and identity management security solutions, and adds a significant capability to SafeSign’s already comprehensive authentication token support.”
Jan Valcke, VASCO’s President & COO said: “By partnering with Thales, we have brought increased flexibility and added security to our customers. SafeSign is a strategically sound authentication solution and we are sure that this partnership will shortly see organisations from many industries employ VASCO’s Digipass with SafeSign at the centre of their security infrastructures. ”
About Thales
Thales is an international electronics and systems group, serving defence, aerospace, services and security markets. The group employs 61,500 people worldwide and generated revenues of €10.3 billion in 2004.
Operating in three main markets covering e-security, card payment and network security, Thales’ e-security activities address the business, government and finance industries’ need for cryptographic security products and solutions. Over half of the world’s banks, together with the majority of the busiest exchanges, currently use Thales technology. For more than 20 years the company has been at the forefront of security and payment technology, co-operating and contributing to set the industry standards used for financial transactions and e-commerce globally. Thales’ e-security business offers a wide range of security solutions to protect Government and Defence critical information infrastructures, thereby positioning the company as a leading worldwide supplier of certified network security products.
About SafeSign
SafeSign is the first middle office system to offer a strategic approach to identity management and transaction authentication that in turn removes complexity through the use of a single platform between the front and back office. Transactions from multiple trust schemes can be easily integrated and secured, regardless of format or whether from third parties, enabling current investments to be exploited. All transactions, whatever their source, can be authenticated on the single SafeSign platform that is seamlessly integrated with front and back office systems.
About VASCO
VASCO designs, develops, markets and supports patented “Identity Authentication” products for e-business and e-commerce. VASCO’s Identity Authentication software is delivered via its Digipass hardware and software security products. For user access control, VASCO’s VACMAN products guarantee that only designated Digipass users get access to the application. With over 18 million Digipass products sold and delivered, VASCO has established itself as a world-leader for strong Identity Authentication with over 420 international financial institutions and approximately 2,100 blue-chip corporations and governments located in more than 100 countries.
Press Contact:
Sharon Brennan
Hotwire
+44 (0) 20 7608 4628
sharon.brennan@hotwirepr.com
Sarah Milligan
Thales e-Security
+44 (0)1844 204181
sarah.milligan@thales-esecurity.com
