ActivIdentity announces strong authentication solution supporting OATH one-time password algorithm
23 May, 2006
category: Corporate, Digital ID, Transit
ActivIdentity has launched two new products, including a mini-token, that support OATH’s one-time-password technology. The company’s strong authentication platform is designed to support current and future releases of the OATH HOTP algorithm, and aligns with OATH’s concept of delivering royalty-free open authentication technologies which help resolve security threats such as identity theft, phishing and internal security breaches.
ActivIdentity Mini Token OE Provides Financial Services Customers Flexibility of Choice in Deploying One-Time Password Solutions for Improved Security
FREMONT, Calif.– ActivIdentity Inc., a global leader in digital identity assurance, reaffirmed its commitment to the authentication standards by launching the ActivIdentity Mini Token OE and ActivIdentity Authentication SDK supporting the HMAC One-Time-Password (HOTP) algorithm technology developed by the Initiative for Open AuTHentication (OATH). OATH is an industry initiative with the mission to drive the ubiquity of strong authentication across all networks, applications and devices.
“As the OATH standards become widely adopted, two-factor authentication technology will become increasingly more affordable, enabling businesses to better protect themselves against malicious security threats,” said Wally Kowal, OATH marketing team member and vice president of marketing for mobile security company Diversinet. “The momentum created by companies such as ActivIdentity deploying the HOTP algorithm will accelerate OATH’s vision of creating a network based on security standards where consumers can feel confident entering personal information online and where business partners can safely collaborate and share data across domains.”
ActivIdentity’s strong authentication platform is designed to support current and future releases of the OATH HOTP algorithm, and aligns with the company’s strategic commitment to industry standards. OATH is well positioned to deliver royalty-free open authentication technologies which help to resolve security threats such as identity theft, phishing, internal security breaches and satisfy government regulations requiring a stronger level of authentication than provided by static usernames and passwords. ActivIdentity’s technology leadership has made significant contributions to standards development for the U.S. government’s GSA Smart Card Interoperability program and the U.S. Department of Defense Common Access Card program.
“Industry leaders embrace standards, and it is only through standards-based, interoperable strong authentication solutions combined with other layers of security that we will begin to curb the rampant fraud and identity theft plaguing the retail banking industry,” said Dominic Fedronic, chief technology officer of ActivIdentity. “We are a strong supporter of the OATH initiative because no one company will solve this problem alone and the solutions of today will not solve the security problems of tomorrow. It is only through a standards-based approach that the security industry will be able to adapt and meet customer needs as the threat landscape evolves.”
ActivIdentity Mini Tokens deliver simple strong authentication for identifying users and granting secure access to banking services. The ActivIdentity Mini Token provides banks and their customers an easy-to-use device to help combat Internet fraud. Its small size, durability (water proof to 1 meter) and long lifespan of up to 10 years combine to give banking institutions an affordable one-time password solution suitable for the exacting requirements of consumer banking. Unlike solutions from other companies, the ActivIdentity Mini Token eliminates the need for financial services companies to require banking customers to replace expiring authentication tokens every couple of years. This significantly reduces deployment costs, as well as administrative and operational expenses going forward.
The ActivIdentity Authentication SDK enables the rapid development of OATH HOTP algorithm-based solutions for efficient deployment of OATH tokens as well as flexible initialization and management capability after issuance to users. The solution can be used in conjunction with a server managed personal identification number (PIN) or password to provide two-factor authentication. The same back-end systems that administer the ActivIdentity Mini Token also support other authentication methods from ActivIdentity, as well as EMV CAP-based authentication and a variety of proprietary tokens and static passwords. Financial institutions can provide different forms of authentication to different users while using the same backend server, reducing costs and providing a migration path for the future.
About OATH
The Initiative for Open AuTHentication is the industry’s leading collaboration of device, platform and application companies, and end user customers of authentication technologies. OATH participants hope to foster use of strong authentication across networks, devices and applications. As OATH grows, the organization is actively seeking feedback and technology contributions from end-user participants who share a common vision for open authentication technology and the products that provide this important measure of security. OATH’s membership includes security industry leaders from token manufacturers, platform vendors, smartcard providers, and security services companies.
About ActivIdentity
ActivIdentity is the enabler of digital identity assurance for governments, enterprises and identity management partners. Formed from the union of ActivCard and Protocom–leaders in the areas of authentication, credential management and enterprise single sign-on–ActivIdentity provides the only complete platform for the secure issuance, management and use of digital identities. The platform consists of strong authentication, enterprise single sign-on and enterprise access card solutions. Headquartered in Fremont, Calif., the company has development centers in the US, Australia, and France. For more information, visit www.actividentity.com.
