Australian Government Awards Verizon Two Security Accreditations

CANBERRA, Australia, Sept. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Australia Pty Ltd (Verizon Australia) has been awarded a Gatekeeper accreditation and a Common Criteria product certification by the Australian government. The two awards formally recognize Verizon's proficiency in delivering specific Identity Access Management solutions that enable the secure delivery of key online government services.

Verizon Australia's Gatekeeper accreditation was awarded by the Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) and enables the company to issue digital certificates to individuals, businesses and Australian government agencies in connection with online government services. Gatekeeper is the government's framework and strategy for the use of public key infrastructure (PKI) to enable online government services delivery, reinforcing the concept of implementing digital signatures to automate transactions that are currently carried out on paper. A trusted system of certification for government enables verification and authentication of transactions between clients, industry, governmental agencies and other governments. To achieve accreditation, Verizon Australia satisfied the government that it can deliver on complex requirements mandated under the Gatekeeper PKI Framework. Verizon is the only IT solutions provider accredited under the High Assurance Category of the Gatekeeper Framework to deliver PKI services to and in relation to the Australian government.

The Common Criteria certification for Verizon's UniCERT - a software product that is designed to provide the functionality required to implement and maintain a PKI system – was awarded by the Defense Signals Directorate. The software is developed by Verizon and signifies the company's competency in issuing and managing digital certificates that allow other IT systems to verify the identity of the holder. The certification process took 12 months and establishes UniCERT as one of only a handful of PKI products to have achieved the accreditation.

John Karabin, Verizon's area vice president for Australia and New Zealand, said: "We continue to see a rising trend of businesses choosing to interact with the government through online channels and the Gatekeeper Accreditation program is a key enabler in safeguarding the integrity of the government's online platforms. In this vein, rigorous accreditation processes serve to ensure that all technology partners are well-qualified to enable the delivery of these services."

Verizon Enterprise Solutions creates global connections that generate growth, drive business innovation and move society forward.  With industry-specific solutions and a full range of global wholesale products and services offered over the company's secure mobility, cloud, strategic networking and advanced communications platforms, Verizon Enterprise Solutions helps open new opportunities around the world for innovation, investment and business transformation.  Visit verizon.com/enterprise to learn more.  Verizon's existing security services, offered through its Terremark subsidiary, include governance, risk and compliance solutions; identity and access management solutions; investigative response; data protection services; threat and vulnerability management services. Visit verizon.com/enterprise to learn more.  

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 94 million retail customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with $111 billion in 2011 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 188,000.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

SOURCE Verizon