Australian Institute of Marine Science --AIMS-- To Use First Access's Authentication Technology to Increase Security and User Productivity.

Business/Technology Editors

SOMERSET, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 2000

First Access, Ltd., the award-winning security developer and founder of the Vicinity Authentication(TM) network security market segment, today announced that the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) has purchased and is using the VicinID Enterprise(TM) Suite in its HR and Finance departments at the research facilities in Cape Ferguson, Australia. First Access's VicinID authentication technology provides corporate end-users with &uot;hands free&uot; secure access to their in-house networks through workstations configured to register and sense their presence.

&uot;The First Access product allows us to balance the need for better security with a need to reduce the burden on our users all with minimal maintenance. In fact, as we rely less on passwords there is actually less work in administering the new system,&uot; said Scott Bainbridge, IT Manager, AIMS. &uot;Most traditional security mechanisms involve making it harder for users - more passwords, longer passwords, more frequent password changes and cryptic hard to remember passwords. We are at the point where users are rebelling and looking to circumvent the security measures in place. The beauty of First Access is that it increases security while making it easier on users - a double win.&uot;

AIMS provides employees with the VicinID Card, a wireless card that continuously transmits an encrypted, low-power radio frequency (RF), to alert office PCs of designated users' physical vicinity presence and for user authentication, in turn protecting network resources and facility access. The VicinID Enterprise Suite is the only complete, centrally managed client/server system for user authentication that detects, identifies and authenticates a user based on his or her presence in the area of a network workstation.

&uot;VicinID is a state-of-the-art wireless security alternative that solves the authentication challenges facing corporations today,&uot; said Dov Sharon, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. &uot;VicinID not only provides a simple, easy solution for users, it introduces a new, expanded level of network security for organizations.&uot;

About First Access, Ltd.

First Access is the award-winning provider of Practical Security solutions and founder of the Vicinity Authentication(TM) market segment. First Access' patent-pending concept combines new hardware, software, and smart card technologies for easy-to-use, and strong contactless authentication of users to corporate networks. Since the corporate launch last October, First Access established the U.S. headquarters and focused on making the technology an integrated, easy-to-administer, enterprise-class solution. First Access is an early member of the PKI Forum and a board member of the SC Forum. The Company has joined 12 industry leaders including IBM, Sun Microsystems, Bull, Schlumberger and Gemplus, as founders of the OpenCard Consortium, smart card standard development architecture, and later joined the smart card forum as a principal member. First Access employs a team of over 40 development and security experts. First Access is headquartered in Somerset, NJ. For more information, visit the company web site at www.access-1.com.

About AIMS

The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) is one of Australia's key research agencies and the only one solely committed to marine research with an emphasis on tropical marine science. The organization's focus is to generate the knowledge needed for the sustainable use and protection of the marine environment through innovative, world-class scientific and technological research. AIMS was established in 1972 and is headquartered on a 207-hectare site at Cape Ferguson. For more information, visit AIMS at www.aims.gov.au.