SafeNet Joins FIDO Alliance

BALTIMORE and PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The FIDO (Fast IDentity Online) Alliance, an industry consortium revolutionizing online authentication with the first standards-based specifications, and SafeNet, a global leader in data protection, today announced that SafeNet has joined the Alliance as a sponsor level member.

FIDO members commit to share technology and collaborate to deliver open specifications for universal strong authentication that enables FIDO-compliant authentication methods to be interoperable, more secure and private, and easier to use.  SafeNet is one of the top authentication companies to work with the Alliance on diversity, interoperability and ease of use for multi-factor authentication solutions.

"As a leader in strong authentication solutions, SafeNet is proud to join the FIDO alliance, and help make strong authentication easier to deploy and use. The development of a common authentication protocol and standards facilitates the broader adoption of secure business practices and increases customer confidence," said Andrew Young, vice president, authentication, SafeNet.

Overcoming complexity and friction associated with strong authentication via interoperable open specifications enables customers, business partners, and employees to enjoy an increased level of trust and customer satisfaction. SafeNet's award-winning multi-factor authentication solutions offer innovative approaches to securing corporate data and protecting the identities of users in the data center, the cloud, and public infrastructures.

"SafeNet is a valued addition to the FIDO Alliance. The company's recognized expertise and innovation in strong authentication solutions will contribute to fresh insights as the first versions of FIDO specifications are being prepared for public release and our members begin early implementations," said Michael Barrett, president of the FIDO Alliance. "SafeNet joins us at an exciting time, as initial FIDO certification and interoperability testing begins and interoperable authentication protocols manifest in first FIDO-ready products. The floodgates are opening now for users and Relying Parties to adopt strong authentication and improve security, privacy and ease of use for businesses and consumers everywhere."

The FIDO protocol will support a full range of authentication technologies, including biometrics such as fingerprint scanners, and voice and facial recognition, as well as existing solutions and communications standards, such as Trusted Platform Modules (TPM), USB Security Tokens, Near Field Communication (NFC), One Time Passwords (OTP), embedded Secure Elements (eSE), and many other existing and future technology options. The open protocol is designed to be extensible and to accommodate future innovation, as well as protect existing investments. The FIDO protocol allows the interaction of technologies within a single infrastructure, enabling security options to be tailored to the distinct needs of each user and organization.

Supporting Resources:

• SafeNet Authentication Solutions
  http://www.safenet-inc.com/products/data-protection/multi-factor-authentication/

About SafeNet
Founded in 1983, SafeNet, Inc. is one of the largest information security companies in the world, and is trusted to protect the most sensitive data for market-leading organizations around the globe. SafeNet's data-centric approach focuses on the protection of high-value information throughout its lifecycle, from the data center to the cloud. More than 25,000 customers across commercial enterprises and government agencies trust SafeNet to protect and control access to sensitive data, manage risk, ensure compliance, and secure virtual and cloud environments.

About The FIDO Alliance
The FIDO (Fast IDentity Online) Alliance, www.fidoalliance.org, was formed in July 2012 to address the lack of interoperability among strong authentication technologies, and remedy the problems users face with creating and remembering multiple user names and passwords. The Alliance plans to change the nature of authentication by developing standards-based specifications that define an open, scalable, interoperable set of mechanisms that supplant reliance on passwords to easily and securely authenticate users of online services.

Media Contacts:
SafeNet
Amanda Curtis
443-327-1276 
[email protected]

FIDO Alliance
Suzanne Matick
831-479-1888 Pacific time zone
[email protected]

SOURCE SafeNet, Inc.