ActivCard Unveils ActivCard Identity Management System(TM) (AIMS)
23 September, 2002
category: Biometrics, Contactless, Corporate, Digital ID, Education, Government
Product Developed for U.S. Department of Defense Makes It Easier to DeployDigital Identities Across the Enterprise
Microsoft(R) Corporation Adopts AIMS to Manage Employee Smart Card ID Program
FREMONT, Calif., Sept. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ –
ActivCard(R) (Nasdaq: ACTI; Nasdaq Europe: ACTI), the leader in IDentity
Management (IDM) software, today introduced ActivCard Identity Management
System(TM) (AIMS), the first product line of powerful multi-tiered software
designed to manage the complete lifecycle of multi-function identity smart
cards – from issuance to termination – including the credentials and
applications on them.
AIMS is designed for the IT departments of mid-sized and large
organizations who need to improve network security while reducing IT spending.
By integrating with existing user identity infrastructure components, AIMS
minimizes the time and costs associated with maintaining and supporting a
digital identity infrastructure. ActivCard is the only company that provides
an end-to-end enterprise identity management solution that manages all of the
multiple digital identities associated with each respective user in an
organization. Employees use a variety of credentials to access different
corporate services. AIMS allows companies to easily issue and manage security
tokens, smart cards, credentials (PKI and SKI), passwords, biometrics and even
custom data and card applications through AIMS’ single, integrated Web
interface.
Today, ActivCard also announced that Microsoft has adopted and deployed
AIMS at its Redmond campus and has already enrolled and issued over
25,000 smart card employee IDs. Microsoft employees now use their smart ID
badges to access company networks locally and remotely supported by a strong
authentication infrastructure.
“Issuing and managing smart card IDs without a central management system
is like selling someone a car that can never be repaired, refueled or
maintained. When the vehicle needs service, you have to buy a new car,” said
Ed MacBeth, senior vice president of marketing, ActivCard. “AIMS provides the
provisioning and ongoing maintenance features required for successful smart
card-based ID deployments.”
AIMS automates many of the maintenance features of the smart card allowing
companies to recoup the cost of the card and the issuance by eliminating help
desk calls. An average enterprise help desk gets 1.2 calls per end user per
month. Typical problems like password reset or PIN unlock cost an average of
$17-20 and take about 7.5 minutes each, according to Gartner Group(1). AIMS
reduces the number and cost of corporate help desk calls through a variety of
user self-service functions. AIMS also offers productivity benefits by
consolidating and managing multiple credentials on one card – for workstation
and network login, email encryption, digital signatures, remote access and
single sign-on – all with a familiar ATM-like experience for the user.
AIMS is based on an ActivCard technology platform currently licensed and
implemented at the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to manage its deployment
of 4.3 million smart card-based IDs known as the Common Access Card (CAC), the
world’s largest deployment of multi-application smart card-based ID badges.
The DoD is currently issuing 8,500 badges per day using the system at over
650 locations around the world. These new CAC badges include both physical and
logical access capabilities, PKI-based digital signature and encryption
applets, and personal demographic information.
AIMS is based on open standards and is interoperable with leading smart
cards, certificate authorities and LDAP directories. Two different editions
are available, depending on the size and requirements of the organization:
ActivCard Identity Management System(TM)-Standard Edition is for mid-size
organizations that need to implement a standard set of security functions for
smart cards and tokens. It is an “out-of-the-box” product optimized for
Windows(R) environments.
ActivCard Identity Management System(TM)-Enterprise Edition is designed
for larger organizations that need a scalable platform. Leveraging the
enhanced security benefits of the Java Card and Global Platform standards,
AIMS provides advanced post-issuance management capabilities. For example,
with AIMS-Enterprise it is possible to add additional applications including
e-cash, employee health benefits and records, loyalty programs, entitlement
programs, payment systems and other services. The system is scalable, so that
a company can start small and grow to hundreds of thousands of users.
AIMS is part of a complete ActivCard IDM solution that includes ActivCard
Gold(TM) middleware software that enables client authentication methods,
including one-time-use dynamic passwords (SKI), PKI and biometrics. The IDM
solution may include the ActivCard Applet Suite on the card for credential
management, Trinity(TM) single sign-on software, and ActivPack(TM) AAA Server
for remote access.
To contact ActivCard about AIMS solutions or to obtain pricing information
please call: 800-529-9499 to speak with a direct sales person. Additional
information is available on our website:
http://www.activcard.com/activ/products/infrastructure/aims_e .
About AIMS
AIMS is a Web-based, distributed, centrally-managed solution enabling
cost-effective deployment of smart cards anytime, anywhere in the world. A
true end-to-end solution, AIMS addresses three critical elements of smart card
deployments in a streamlined, automated, highly-secure process:
1. Issuance – Bind smart cards to users; initialize applets and
personalize Personal Identification Numbers (PIN); generate Public Key
Infrastructure (PKI) keys and retrieve PKI certificates and other
data, including Symmetric Key Infrastructure (SKI) credentials; and
manage the printing of cards.
2. Post-issuance – Complete card content management, including
credential renewals and updates of data and applets; self service and
help desk functions used for unlocking cards and issuing temporary and
replacement cards; logistics and inventory management, ensuring that
only authorized cards are issued; secured auditing and reporting, to
record and report all transactions related to the cards and their
contents.
3. Administration – Configuration with directory services and
certificate authorities, and managing roles and policies requirements
for large smart card deployments.
About ActivCard
ActivCard, http://www.activcard.com, is the leader in IDentity Management (IDM)
software. Our scalable IDM and strong authentication solutions are trusted by
organizations – from enterprise to governments around the world. ActivCard IDM
systems deliver maximum Return On Identity(TM) (ROI) through increased
security, reduced cost, and user convenience. The modular product design
allows our customers to add capabilities as required, preserving their
investment.
The statements in this press release that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including
risks associated with fluctuations in operating results, our history of
losses, the concentration of our customer base, our reliance on strategic
relationships, acquisitions and managing the Company’s future growth, and
other risks identified in the Company’s periodic filings with the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to those
appearing under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s annual report on
Form 20-F. Actual results, events and performance may differ materially.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. ActivCard disclaims any
intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
(1) Gartner Group Note #DF-14-7228, 14 Jan 2002