It security.

Computer Associates International has released CA Identity Manager, what it calls a "highly scalable and adaptable solution for automating the management of user identities to manage risk, enhance regulatory compliance and reduce administrative costs."

Leveraging technology from CA's acquisition of Netegrity, Identity Manager unifies identity management across the entire enterprise--from the Web to the mainframe--to streamline and simplify administration of internal and external users and their entitlements. This helps ensure that IT systems are under control and that business processes are conducted in accordance with enterprise policies.

CA Identity Manager supports improved compliance and security through the automation of identity management processes. This automation drives repeatable and auditable processes that CA says are inherently more reliable than the ad hoc, manual processes that are often used today. In addition, control policies such as those related to segregation of duties or entitlement re-certifications can be managed more easily through policy-based automation.

"Our identity and access management initiatives have enabled us to achieve operational efficiencies and reduce the burden on information security administrators by streamlining and standardizing the process of managing our users and automating key identity processes," said Jacob Goodson, information security officer at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System.

CA Identity Manager leverages the CA Integration Platform to unify and simplify the management of enterprise-wide security by utilizing consistent workflow capabilities for user administration and entitlements. Organizations can more easily automate processes in order to reduce costs and risk, enforce IT best practices and accelerate time-to-benefit for new applications and services.

Web: www.ca.com

Identity assurance company Strike-Force Technologies has launched ProtectID[TM], which it calls "one of the industry's most secure and flexible two-factor authentication platforms." The solution uses up to 10 authentication methods--including mobile phones, tokens and iris scanners--to grant authorized account access, creating a highly secure online environment designed to shut out hackers.

ProtectID grants secure access to online accounts by sending users' passwords over a channel that's separate from the standard channel of user name and password boxes. For example, financial services, e-commerce or government organizations may require that in addition to a username and password, users receive a call direct to their cell phone, where they enter a PIN on the keypad, pass a voice-recognition test or enter a one-time password (OTP). The solution can be deployed for desktop and laptop login, or for website access or transactions.

ProtectID integrates with more two-factor technologies than any other authentication solution, the company claims. The 10 tools include biometric devices (fingerprint readers, iris scanners and voice-activated phone calls), smart cards, USB tokens and one-time password generators (tokens and devices running StrikeForce's OTP software, such as a mobile phone, PDA, BlackBerry and even a user's personal computer). If the primary authentication device is lost, stolen or malfunctioning, ProtectID also allows companies to employ a back-up method to ensure authorized users can still gain access.

Organizations can easily deploy ProtectID across existing technology infrastructure, like cellphones and computers, thereby quickly and inexpensively adding more robust security measures.

ProtectID works as a standalone product, or in concert with VerifyID[TM], the company's identity validation quiz that only "real" users can pass. Deployed together, the technologies deliver "a powerful security blanket that guarantees true users have easy and secure online access, while stopping identity thieves well before any damage can be done," the company said in an announcement.

ProtectID, available today, can be implemented as out-of-the-box CD software, a plug-and-play appliance or can be hosted on Panasonic's ASP server.

Web: www.sftjn.com