Security key used to block access to football team’s play book
26 May, 2004
category: Transit
The National Football League’s Chicago Bears has chosen Aladdin’s eToken authentication key to keep prying eyes off the team’s electronic play books, player contracts, and scouting information. It is the first time an NFL team has gone to this extent–a USB security key–to defend against unauthorized access to proprietary information.
CHICAGO, May 26–Aladdin Knowledge Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALDN – News) recently announced that the Chicago Bears, the founding team of the National Football League (NFL), chose the Aladdin eToken authentication key to protect its highly sensitive electronic play books, player contracts and scouting information. The Bears are the first NFL team to use such powerful authentication technology as a strong defense against unauthorized access to proprietary information.
“As an NFL team, we’re dealing with a business that is constantly in a competitive environment,” said Brian Wright, IT Director for the Chicago Bears. “The Bears coaches needed something that provided an extremely high level of security, without worrying them with difficult, inconvenient technology. Aladdin eToken was the answer.”
More than 125 members of the Bears staff at Chicago’s Halas Hall and Soldier Field are being given eToken, a two-factor USB authentication key, in order to access data that simply cannot be allowed to fall into the wrong hands. eToken, about the size of an average house key, will be carried by Bears staff in order to access team data inside workstations and remote offices. By requiring the use of eToken and a matching PIN, powerful, two- factor authentication protects potentially game-winning data that could push a competing team to victory.
Wright adds, “We’re dealing with a business that is based on proprietary information and strategies. Protecting that data is essential to winning. Coaches use computers throughout the season for the planning, analysis and execution of these processes. With Aladdin eToken, they can carry their security around just as easily as they carry the keys to their car. By adding eToken to our network security, we’ve brought it up to state-of-the-art levels without inconveniencing those that matter most – the players and the coaches.”
The Bears are using eToken for two main security purposes – network logon, which requires the eToken to access information at the team’s facilities, and secure VPN access, which authenticates users when they access team and play information from outside the office. Replacing less secure password-based systems, eToken allows the Bears to access team information with peace of mind from anywhere at any time.
“We applaud the Chicago Bears leadership for securing highly sensitive team information with strong, two-factor authentication,” said Steve Langerock, CEO of Aladdin Knowledge Systems’ North American operations. “The world of sports mirrors the competitive intensity of business. eToken helps to protect the Bears off the field, where competition isn’t as visible but the threats are just as real.”