Thales Launches SafeSign Single Sign On

PRESS RELEASE

Thales, leader in information systems and communications security, announces SafeSign Single Sign On, the latest addition to the SafeSign strong authentication and ID management product line. SafeSign Single Sign On delivers simplified strong authentication for organizations concerned with ever increasing security threats, rising help-desk costs and frustration with managing multiple and complex passwords.

SafeSign Single Sign On provides simplified secure access to sensitive applications through strong authentication, requiring the user to identify himself only once at the start of a session. SafeSign Single Sign On enables suitable authentication logon policies to be enforced in order to meet a diverse set of business requirements. Different strengths and types of authentication can be presented to different user groups including static passwords, one-time password tokens, USB tokens, EMV/CAP cards and PKI smart cards.

With SafeSign Single Sign On users need just one identity credential and no longer need to remember lots of different passwords " meaning fewer calls to reset passwords or accounts and in turn dramatically reducing help-desk costs related to password management.

Providing a simplified secure login process improves the protection around accessing applications, SafeSign Single Sign On helps ensure that security policies are applied more consistently. By deploying SafeSign Single Sign On, organizations are able to streamline the login experience without compromising security or impacting user productivity.

"As IT systems proliferate to support business processes, users typically have to sign-on to multiple systems, necessitating an equivalent number of sign-on exchanges " each of which may involve different usernames and authentication information. System administrators are also faced with managing user accounts within each of the multiple systems to be accessed in order to maintain the integrity of security policy enforcement," says Franck Greverie, Vice President, Managing Director for the information systems security activities of Thales. "SafeSign Single Sign On streamlines the authentication processes associated with accessing Windows desktop and web-based applications through the comprehensive deployment of a managed single sign on framework with strong authentication " helping counter security threats, improve the customer experience, ease the burden of managing multiple passwords and access credentials, reduce help-desk costs and comply with government regulation."

The SafeSign family of products offers a comprehensive end-to-end security solution, providing high security issuance, management and advanced authentication of a diverse set of identity credentials in a single solution. All of the SafeSign products integrate seamlessly with each other as well as integrating with other third party products.

Notes to editor Thales is one of the world leaders in the provision of Information and Communication Systems Security solutions for government, defense, critical infrastructure operators, enterprises and the finance industry. Thales's unique position in the market is due to its end-to-end security offering spanning the entire value chain in the security domain. The comprehensive offering includes architecture design, security and encryption product development, evaluation and certification preparation and through-life management services.

Thales has forty years of unrivalled track record in protecting information from Sensitive But Unclassified up to Top Secret and a comprehensive portfolio of security products and services, which includes network security products, application security products and secured telephony products.

About Thales Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Space, Defence, Security and Transportation markets. In 2008, the company generated revenues of 12.7 billion euros with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers as local partners. www.thalesgroup.com

Contacts: Liz Harris Thales