Datakey Smart Card Technology Integrated With Pointsec(R) for PC
13 November, 2002
category: Biometrics, Contactless, Education
Pointsec Mobile Technologies and Datakey Enable a Powerful Workstation
Security Solution That Delivers Smart Card-Based PC Logon, Single Sign-On,
Full Disk Encryption and Computer Lock-Down Functionality
MINNEAPOLIS and WALNUT CREEK, Calif., Oct. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ –
Datakey Inc. (Nasdaq: DKEY) ( http://www.datakey.com ), a trusted developer of
smart card solutions for securing e-business, and Pointsec(R) Mobile
Technologies, Inc. ( http://www.pointsec.com ), a global leader in enterprise
security software for laptops, desktops and PDAs, today announced that Datakey
smart card technology has achieved integration with Pointsec(R) for PC,
Pointsec’s enterprise workstation security software that delivers full hard
disk encryption, authentication for computer logon and single sign-on to
Windows and Novell networks.
The Pointsec for PC solution uses access control and encryption to protect
access to information, software and network connections on desktop or laptop
PCs. It safeguards a user’s workstation by requiring the user to authenticate
their identity prior to computer start-up. Through a Single Sign-On (SSO)
interface, users only need a single user ID/password to access both the PC and
their Windows or Novell network. Once logged on, it automatically encrypts
the contents of the user’s hard disk drive. If the user’s laptop or
workstation is ever lost or stolen, no unauthorized user could start-up the
machine, or gain access to the contents of the PC without the proper
credentials, even if the hard drive is removed and installed in an insecure
device.
Datakey smart cards deliver an extra layer of protection for Pointsec
workstations by giving users the ability to upgrade from user ID/password-only
authentication to two-factor smart card security – authentication is based on
something the user owns, their personal smart card, and something the user
knows, their passphrase to activate the smart card. Access to a user’s
workstation and the network requires possession of the smart card and
knowledge of the passphrase, making it extremely difficult for any
unauthorized user to compromise a protected desktop.
To start up the workstation and access the operating system or network
through the SSO interface, a user inserts their smart card into the attached
card reader and then enters their passphrase. After logging on, the user
benefits from automatic hard disk encryption for the complete contents of
their PC. They also benefit from a secure lock-down mode whenever they remove
their smart card from the reader, which requires the user to re-insert their
smart card and re-enter the passphrase to unlock the workstation.
The combined Pointsec and Datakey solution protects access to a user’s
workstation, but it also creates a secure environment for a complete range of
other network or online applications after the user has logged on to their PC.
The user can take advantage of Datakey smart card technology and their digital
credentials for e-commerce applications, to digitally sign and complete online
transactions, to digitally sign forms or documents, to encrypt and digitally
sign e-mail, for VPN access or for any other enterprise PKI applications.
“Pointsec Mobile Technologies understands the importance of smart cards in
enabling an even higher factor of workstation and enterprise-wide security
when combined with our award-winning Pointsec 4.1 encryption and access
control solution,” said Doug Chalmers, president of Pointsec Mobile
Technologies, Inc. “We partnered with Datakey because its smart card
solution, Datakey CIP, seamlessly integrated with Pointsec. And Datakey is
widely recognized and trusted in the smart card industry for their superior
technology, which includes FIPS 140-1 Level 2 certification.”
Tim Russell, vice president and general manager, Datakey, said, “We’re
excited to be working with a proven leader like Pointsec Mobile Technologies
and foresee a strong partnership through our combined technology. The
Pointsec-Datakey solution gives our joint customers security and flexibility
for their workstations and for a complete range of secure network applications
after they log on to their desktops or laptops.”
About Pointsec(R) for PC
Pointsec 4.1 was the first full disk encryption product to receive FIPS
certification (FIPS 140-1 Level 1), and is currently in evaluation status for
Common Criteria EAL 4 Level 4. The encryption algorithms implemented in
Pointsec software – 3DES, DES and AES – also have been certified by the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Pointsec features
integration with and Single Sign-On for Entrust(R) Authority(TM) 6.0,
Windows(R) NT/2000/NT4 and Novell(R) Netware 4.x and 5.x network environments,
and works with all Windows workstations (Windows 95 and higher).
About Pointsec Mobile Technologies
Pointsec Mobile Technologies, Inc. ( http://www.pointsec.com ) develops and
markets security software for PCs, laptops, PDAs and other mobile computing
devices to enterprise clients in government, financial, high-tech, and medical
industries. Customers include the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department
of Defense, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, Cisco, NEC, Nokia, InterTrust, and
Blue Cross Blue Shield. Pointsec Mobile Technologies, Inc. is part of the
Protect Data AB group of companies, which has been selling desktop encryption
solutions to large organizations worldwide since 1988 and is publicly traded
on the Stockholm Stock exchange under the “PROT” symbol.
About Datakey Inc.
Datakey Inc. ( http://www.datakey.com ) focuses on delivering smart card-based
solutions that assure identity and protect the integrity and privacy of data
shared over public and private networks. Datakey cryptographic smart cards,
client software, desktop applications and card management products enable
organizations to reliably identify users and open doors in both the physical
and online worlds.
Customers and partners alike rely on Datakey technology in a full range of
enterprise applications, including password management, host authentication,
Windows log-on, VPN access, web authorization, desktop security, corporate
badge and building access, biometric integration, public key encryption,
digital certificates and digital signatures.
Pointsec is a registered trademark of Pointsec Mobile Technologies, Inc.
Research and evaluate FIPS 201 Approved Products and get the latest info on compliant credentialing systems at FIPS201.com. Click to visit FIPS201.com.