SafeNet Provides Mobile Device Authentication For Corporate Networks

BALTIMORE July 14, 2011 SafeNet, Inc., a global leader in information security, announced today the immediate availability of its new mobile device credentialing solution that enables the secure use of consumer mobile devices, including the popular iPhone and iPad, on corporate networks. Part of SafeNet’s Fully Trusted Authentication Environment, SafeNet’s Authentication Manager (SAM) now allows organizations to implement a comprehensive authentication strategy for multiple types of end point devices, including personal mobile devices. By integrating mobile device credential management into a unified authentication scheme, organizations can ensure that only authorized personal mobile devices have access to corporate networks and resources.

The consumerization of IT - personal computing devices accessing corporate networks - has become one of the top concerns for IT departments in 2011. There are security and manageability issues when users access corporate networks with smartphones, tablets, and personal computers. A lack of automated and consistent credentialing and control of personal mobile devices can expose networks to data breaches and unauthorized access. As more consumer devices gain access to sensitive corporate and customer data, IT departments are struggling to balance user productivity demands with the enforcement of adequate security policies.

“The increased adoption of smartphones, tablets, and other consumer devices accessing corporate networks is a big security challenge,” said Lawrence Pingree, Gartner Research Director. “There is an enormous risk created by untrusted, and often unknown, devices accessing valuable corporate data. Restricting the use of these smartphones and tablets is not a realistic option given the strong consumerization of mobile devices. An appropriate method of managing this risk is through authentication capabilities that can further validate these devices for secure access.”

SafeNet now enables organizations to secure and manage the access of consumer mobile devices on the corporate network, in the same way they manage their corporate-owned resources. By implementing unified authentication schemes, security policies and credentials for employee-owned end point devices, SAM helps organizations to enable their workforce while reducing IT management and administration resource burden. Further, with SAM, organizations can centrally and consistently manage all authentication requirements for local networks, VPNs, SaaS applications, and virtualized environments.

“The security perimeter and devices that access it have changed dramatically, forcing organizations to re-think access to networks, especially with regard to mobile devices,” said Andrew Young, vice president, Authentication, SafeNet. “SafeNet Authentication Manager enables our customers to evolve into the future, extending their security infrastructure to keep pace with the emergence of new endpoint devices, ensuring that data remains protected.”

About SafeNet’s Fully Trusted Authentication Environment

The SAM platform is part of SafeNet’s Fully Trusted Authentication Environment, which offers users token programmability and control over token seed data. SafeNet offers additional layers of protection through encryption of token data, and the ability to store and manage keys in hardware. Organizations have a choice to use certificate-based authentication, OTP, mobile authentication, and secure access to SaaS applications. SafeNet’s authentication improves business control and visibility through centralized and simplified administration, deployment, and manageability now and for future business requirements. For more information regarding SafeNet’s complete portfolio of authentication solutions, visit www.safenet-inc.com\authentication.