Secure Data, a member of the JSE-listed ERP.com Group, and the Sub-Saharan Africa distributor for the Cell-ID product developed locally by the Expertron Group, today announced Cell-ID Version 2.0, the latest release of the two-factor strong user authentication system that makes use of mobile telephones as authentication tokens.
Cell-ID uses the SMS service to deliver cryptographically strong, one-time passcodes to a user's mobile telephone when accessing secure computer facilities. Cell-ID can be used to protect access to Web servers, Unix login accounts, Unix FTP accounts, Windows NT/2000 domain logins, remote access dial-up servers, and other services that use the RADIUS protocol for authentication.
Version 2.0 of Cell-ID includes the following new features:
* A Centralised Authentication Service that can be used to manage a centralised authentication service, since password authentication can now be centrally managed on the Cell-ID Authentication Server. Passwords form the first factor of the two-factor authentication process. However, maintaining a single password database, and having an authentication service that can utilise existing password databases is highly advantageous. The Cell-ID Authentication Server can be configured to authenticate a password received from an authentication client against an existing Windows NT/2000 or LDAP password database. Furthermore, passwords can also be stored locally on the Authentication Server for a standalone, centralised authentication service. User passwords that are changed by an administrator are sent directly to the user's mobile telephone via an SMS text message.
* Integrated RADIUS configuration. Configuration of the FreeRADIUS RADIUS server has been integrated into the Web-based Cell-ID Database Management Interface (DMI). This allows for flexible management of RADIUS attribute-value pairs directly from the DMI.
* Standalone RAS (Remote Access Server) for dial-up that can be used as a standalone RAS server for dial-up access. This means that no additional hardware such as routers and portservers are required, delivering a secure and cost-effective dial-up solution. Cell-ID can also be used with existing portservers and network access servers that support the RADIUS protocol.
* A Windows NT/2000 domain login that can be used to authenticate Windows NT/2000 domain logins. This provides a strong, token-based authentication mechanism that can be rapidly deployed in extensive Windows networks.
* Notification of failed login attempts. Users are notified directly by SMS when they have exceeded their limit of consecutive failed login attempts. Notification of such events to Cell-ID administrators has already been a feature of previous Cell-ID versions.
"This new version of Cell-ID adds significantly to the functionality of original one," commented Jan Coetzee, Director of SecureData. "It offers users a very secure, strong and comprehensive product, with the added value of it reflecting the specific requirements and dynamics of the southern African market, since it was developed locally."
For further information, please contact Jan Coetzee at tel +27 11 257 8667; fax +27 11 257 8699; e-mail janc@sd.co.za
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Expertron Group (Pty) Ltd is a hi-tech start-up company that specialises in innovative product development for information and communication security solutions, with a current focus on applications utilising technologies at the convergence between mobile (GSM) and conventional data networks (the Internet).
Established in October 2000, Expertron was the first company to join the Gauteng Innovation Hub, currently located on the CSIR campus in Pretoria and operating as a pilot technology incubator. Expertron provides IT services to the pilot incubator, and supports the initiatives of the Innovation Hub to promote the growth of innovative high-technology businesses that develop intellectual property in SA for both local and international markets.
Secure Data
SecureData, an ERP.com company, is Africa's Premier IT Security Solution Provider. SecureData's solutions incorporate anti-virus and content security, network security, intrusion detection software, and network asset management. SecureData's comprehensive "Managed Security Services" include design, audit, implementation, outsourcing and hosting.
SecureData distributes, sells and supports category leading IT security products to the public, corporate and SME sectors throughout Africa as well as products and services to the SOHO and consumer markets through partnerships with ISPs. As well as being the sole distributor in Sub-Saharan Africa for Cell-ID and Trend Micro, SecureData is the southern African distributor for US-based BorderWare, UK-based Centennial and US-based Network Privacy. For more information, visit SecureData at www.sd.co.za.
ERP.com
ERP.com is a JSE-listed company focused on the implementation, integration and management of enterprise applications in an e-business environment. For more information, visit ERP.com at www.erpcom.co.za.
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