F5 Networks achieves RSA secured partner program certification for its FirePass SSL VPN product.

F5 Networks, Inc, a leader in Application Traffic Management, has announced that F5 has achieved RSA Secured Partner Program certification for its FirePass product, enabling interoperability with the RSA SecurID twofactor authentication solution. This RSA Secured certification builds upon the technical partnership that F5 and RSA Security have established to increase security for joint customers.

"We are pleased to have F5's FirePass solution added to the RSA Secured Partner Program," said Stuart Cohen, director of partner development at RSA Security. "Our relationship with F5 Networks helps enable joint customers to select the right level of investment and security to protect their businesses."

Organizations using FirePass v5.4 with RSA SecurID technology benefit from increased security, easier management, and a lower total cost of ownership. And because FirePass 5.4 supports integration with both native RSA SecurID technology and the RADIUS protocol as back-end authentication options, customers don't have to make changes their RSA Authentication Manager software configuration and may continue to use their existing process.

"With more people working in remote offices and on the road, secure access to the enterprise network--without inhibiting productivity--is essential," said Michael Suby, Senior Research Analyst with Stratecast Partners (a Division of Frost & Sullivan). "Earning the RSA Secured certification proves that F5 is serious about delivering 'out-of-the-box' secure access and strong user authentication to customers of Firepass and RSA SecurID technology."

"RSA Security places great emphasis on ensuring operability with its partners. This presents a compelling value to our joint customers knowing that our products closely interoperate with those from an industry leader," said Jim Ritchings, Vice President of Business Development at F5 Networks.

F5's FirePass Controller enables enterprises to provide secure, reliable and intuitive remote access to corporate applications and data using standard web browser technology, without the headaches associated with time-consuming client software installation and configuration, or changes to server-side applications.

The FirePass Controller is the industry's first SSL VPN solution that provides complete cross-platform support and the broadest application access, including web hosts, client-server applications, and legacy hosts. Unlike IPSec VPN products that require the installation of special client software, the FirePass solution offers a clientless SSL VPN service that leverages any standard browser interface. It also offers the only open API (Application Programming Interface) and SDK (Software Developer's Kit) that enables 3rd party application vendors to build seamless, secure remote access into their client applications.

The RSA SecurID system is the world's most widely used two-factor user authentication solution. It is as simple to use as entering a password, but significantly more secure. Used in conjunction with RSA Authentication Manager software, an RSA SecurID authenticator functions like an ATM card for a company network, requiring users to identify themselves with two unique factors--something they know (a password or PIN), and something they have (in this case, an RSA SecurID key fob token)--before they are granted access to secure business information.