Aberdeen Reports on Pioneering Wireless Network Security Solution; Leading U.S. Research Group Cites First Access System an 'Evolutionary Step' in Network Security.

HAIFA, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 29, 1999--First Access, the award-winning provider of practical security solutions for secure wireless authentication, today announced that the Aberdeen Group, a U.S. information technology research and consulting organization, has published an Impact paper citing the company's Vicinity Authentication(TM) system as the best solution to the weakened security and wasted resources caused by password management within corporate networks.

The First Access system is pronounced an "evolution in network security," authenticating users by their presence in the vicinity of a secured workstation, through the deployment of a patent-pending wireless Vicinity Smart Card and NT server integrated software technology.

The Aberdeen Impact report entitled, First Access Leads the Way in Wireless Authentication, outlines the movement by IT decision-markers toward adopting new user credential solutions in an attempt to improve the security and usability problems inherent in traditional password-based network authentication.

The problems, as outlined by the report, include the threat to enterprise information assets as users circumvent or abuse passwords, the heavy support burdens placed on MIS personnel attempting to properly administer security policies, and the general inconvenience and productivity loss experienced by network users.

Senior Analyst for Aberdeen, Eric Hemmendinger, sees the First Access Vicinity Authentication(TM) system as "Strikingly convenient" for users and administrators, with a "key advantage" over other potential solutions for internal network authentication, such as biometrics or contact smart cards.

"First Access Ltd. has introduced a solution delivering continuous authentication of users through proactive detection of individuals' credentials.

Strikingly convenient for users, the product features a smart card-like Vicinity Card held by the individual and a PC-attached sensor that detects the presence of vicinity cards with sophisticated wireless technology. When detected, the individual is authenticated and logged on to the Windows NT network through a tightly integrated vicinity card-sensor-client software-NT server process.

When the user leaves the area, the product immediately locks the PC, preventing further network access. While the current PC-based applications continue to run in the background, the PC is locked. When the user returns, the desktop is immediately accessible and the network authentication process is automatically repeated."

"It is encouraging to see how Aberdeen perceives and responds to our concept and product line," says Rick Mace, First Access' recently appointed CEO. "Aberdeen Group is a widely known and respected research firm with a strong grip in enterprise security research and consulting. We look forward to meeting the challenge and standing up to Aberdeen's and market expectations."

In the Impact paper conclusion, Hemmendinger continues: "For users, vicinity authentication provides convenience and ends the thorny password problem. For IS decision-makers, vicinity authentication means full-time access control and reduced burden on the help desk. And, vicinity authentication improves protection for the enterprise's information assets as users cease efforts to circumvent passwords as a security tool."

"Providing enterprises with the ability to detect multiple users in the vicinity of multiple PCs, the company is offering IS decision-makers the flexibility to establish policy based on the presence of multiple users with varying privileges -- a powerful capability."

About Aberdeen Group

Aberdeen Group, founded in 1988, is a Boston-based information technology research and consulting organization that closely monitors user needs, technological innovation, and market developments. It focuses its research efforts on the business impact of technology changes.

For more information about the Aberdeen's ongoing research on IT trends, please consult the Aberdeen Web site at http://www.aberdeen.com or contact George Katavolos at 800/577-7891 or [e-mail].

About First Access

First Access Ltd. is the award-winning vendor of Practical Security solutions and founder of the Vicinity Authentication(TM) market segment. The company's innovative security product was winner of Byte Magazine's prestigious "Best of CeBIT" award in March of 1998 and was recently a finalist for PC Week's "Best of Comdex."

First Access' patent-pending concept combines new hardware, software and smart card technologies for easy-to-use, automatic user authentication of PCs, network workstations and office equipment. The First Access Enterprise(TM) product suite implements the highest level of integration with network operating systems such as Windows NT, providing enterprise wide security and access control.

First Access has joined 12 industry leaders including IBM, Sun Microsystems, Bull, Schlumberger and Gemplus, as founders of the OpenCard Framework, a smart card standard development architecture.

The company employs a team of over 30 development and security experts, and has most recently appointed Mr. Rick Mace as its U.S. based C.E.O. (please see http://www.access-1.com/press/us_ceo.html for details).

Moshe Elgressy, a top Israeli security expert and software engineer, founded First Access Ltd. in 1997. The company's initial capital investment was made by Neurone venture capital fund, whose partners include the Israeli representatives of Siemens and Sun Microsystems.

Recently, the company has completed a second round of financing led by Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP) of Israel, Shamrock and the Van Leer Group of the Netherlands.

First Access has its R&D Headquarters based at 10 Markoni Street, PO Box 25084, Haifa 31253, Israel. Telephone: [phone]. Fax: [phone]. E-mail: [e-mail], Web site: http://www.access-1.com.