RSA Security unveils innovative two-factor authentication solution for consumer market

RSA Security Inc, the most trusted name in e-security, today announced the RSA Mobile authentication solution, which is designed to utilize mobile phones and the SMS (short messaging service) infrastructure to quickly deliver one-time access codes to end-users for secure entry into Web-based applications.

This innovative, two-factor authentication solution is designed to enable enterprises to more securely extend popular Web applications to help improve customer service and increase revenues. The RSA Mobile authentication solution is designed to be a cost-effective way to help reduce the risk of fraud, lower administration costs and enhance customer trust, while leveraging the consumers` mobile devices.

To effectively implement wide-reaching e-business applications, enterprises must build trusted identities by strongly authenticating users - employees, partners, and customers alike. Despite this, organisations have traditionally relied on weak, static passwords that are easily hacked and costly to manage. RSA Mobile two-factor authentication software is designed to eliminate the need to rely on passwords by providing users with unique, one-time access codes that are generated at the time of log-in and delivered immediately to the end-user`s mobile phone, pager, PDA or e-mail account. The user simply enters their user ID and PIN followed by the one-time access code to be positively authenticated.

RSA Mobile software is designed to be a "zero-deployment" two-factor authentication solution, leveraging users` existing mobile phones, pagers or PDAs - devices that are already an integral part of any users` arsenal of business and personal tools. For enterprises, this significantly helps simplify deployment (administrators do not need to deploy anything to their end-users), reduce costs and protect sensitive and valuable company information with a proven two-factor authentication model. Additionally, the RSA Mobile authentication solution is designed to greatly enhance the user experience by giving them a portable, intuitive and easy to use method for securely accessing their valuable data assets.

"RSA Mobile software brings strong authentication to the mobile world, removing the need to deploy any hardware and software to the end-user. With more than 200 million SMS users in Europe, the product leverages a device that people already have and use, and may open the door to new larger-volume markets through its scalability and cost-efficiency," said Thomas Raschke, program manager European security products and strategies at IDC.

"RSA Security is presenting a consumer authentication solution to companies with Web-based, high-end user volume B2C or B2B applications, such as financial services and telcos. RSA Mobile authentication software serves to enhance both customer trust and revenue generation while reducing the risk of fraud," added Raschke.

"RSA Mobile authentication software provides an order-of-magnitude advance in delivering increased assurance of an Internet user`s identity in an easy to use form," said Graham Titterington, senior analyst at Ovum. "It is anticipated that it will be popular with both end-users and organisations providing services over the Internet."

The release of the RSA Mobile authentication solution has generated praise from RSA Security customers who see the solution as an opportunity to cost-effectively reach large, geographically dispersed user bases with highly secure, two-factor authentication security. iRevolution and Your Communications, a subsidiary of United Utilities, have done extensive testing of the technology over the past year.

"Having successfully completed a major trial of this new technology with our parent company, United Utilities, we can confirm that this new security platform is a landmark development to anyone requiring a secure and robust authentication system," said Hugh Logan, managing director of Your Communications. "The use of mobile phones as an authentication device is a major step forward in the pursuit of success in today`s competitive environment. Supported by the Your Communications managed authentication service, RSA Mobile software can now offer the platform customers need for secure access to applications."

Eamus Halpin, Chief Executive Officer at iRevolution, comments: "iRevolution implemented RSA SecurID software as part of our managed services portfolio nearly three years ago. Since then it has been an overwhelming success with our customers who can now have the advantage of world-class two-factor strong authentication on a pay-as-you-go basis. Now, with the new RSA Mobile authentication solution, this service-based concept has been taken to a new level with token ownership being replaced by a one-time access code sent to your mobile phone.

"In our opinion, this helps RSA Security bring two major dynamics to the global authentication marketplace; virtually unlimited scalability and incredible operational economics. The return on investment model for providing RSA Mobile software as a service to Web users is very compelling and suggests a confidence factor for companies that deploy it that will clearly differentiate them from their competition. User authentication is a major component of the services provided by iRevolution and we are convinced that this product will make a serious contribution for many businesses over the next three to five years," Halpin concludes.

RSA Mobile software is designed to be an ideal solution for the B2C and B2B marketplaces. It is a robust solution designed to scale to millions of users without an army of administrators. This scalability allows companies to cost-effectively maintain security as the number of remote users multiplies. Equally important, administrators are able to manage the entire RSA Mobile authentication environment through Web-based administration from a single point on the network. The solution`s enhanced administration helps simplify labour-intensive tasks, providing convenience and cost savings by helping to reduce the time required to manage network security. In addition, RSA Mobile technology is designed to be intuitive and requires minimal end-user training - resulting in fewer helpdesk calls.

"RSA Mobile authentication solution cost-effectively extends the value of two-factor authentication to millions of users to improve their online experience by leveraging the end user`s existing mobile device," said Bill McQuaide, senior vice-president, Authentication division at RSA Security. "As with other trusted identity and access management solutions from RSA Security, RSA Mobile software can bring tremendous benefit to thousands of customers to provide trust, convenience and reliability to grow e-business revenues and enhance profitability."

RSA Mobile authentication software is available at the end of September. For more information about RSA Mobile software, please visit http://www.rsasecurity.com/products/mobile/ or call 1-877-RSA-4900.