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Positive Networks Releases PhoneFactor(TM) for Free; Transforms Any Phone into a Two-Factor Authentication Device

Posted on: Wednesday, 19 September 2007, 09:01 CDT

Positive Networks, the leading provider of hosted security services, today announced the release of the company's new PhoneFactor phone-based authentication service which can use any phone, including the new iPhone, as a secure authentication device. First announced at Interop Vegas 2007, PhoneFactor eliminates the need for third-party authentication devices like smart cards and soft tokens to help credential employees access authorized applications and files.

PhoneFactor is a free service for organizations seeking a powerful yet simple way of authenticating end users for access to authorized business-critical applications. PhoneFactor is a complete two-factor authentication service that includes unlimited users for VPN appliances, Citrix, and Microsoft Outlook Web Access. It also includes free authentication calls within the U.S. In addition, a free Web SDK enables PhoneFactor to be implemented with any Web or custom application, and is available online at www.phonefactor.net. Positive Networks provides additional premium features for a fee that eases deployment and operation of PhoneFactor. This includes multi-server support, directory integration, international authentication, reporting and auditing, and support and product maintenance packages.

"Authentication products are becoming more common place as organizations use them to replace insecure usernames and passwords," said Tim Suttton, CEO, Positive Networks. "The idea behind PhoneFactor is simple. Replace your third-party authentication device with something you already carry everyday -- your mobile phone. We've taken great steps to eliminate the time-consuming tasks of rolling out authentication throughout the enterprise. And we're seeing positive reaction about PhoneFactor from customers and industry influencers."

"It's been really hard to get the security-convenience balance right. Users want easy to remember passwords while IT security wants frequently changing passwords. That's why forgotten passwords have been the top reason for calls to the IT help desk. On the other hand token-based systems are more secure but unreliable and expensive to maintain. PhoneFactor greatly improves both security and convenience at an attractive price. Brilliant," said Peter Brockmann, president of Brockmann & Company, the customer insight company.

PhoneFactor is a Web-based service that can be set up within minutes and without the purchase of hardware or packaged software. The service is easy to implement and seamlessly integrates with existing Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS), Microsoft Active Directory, and RADIUS servers. No software is installed on the phone, and users can easily be set up through a simple Active Directory import. Positive Networks also provides 24/7 end user and IT administrator support.

PhoneFactor provides key security features not normally available from two-factor authentication systems, including Live Fraud Alert and Anti-Phishing Technology. With Live Fraud Alert, PhoneFactor is the only two-factor authentication system in the world that allows for instant attack detection. Every authentication attempt in which the attacker knows the user's username and password will generate a phone call to the true user. That user can immediately contact support, just by pressing a key combination during the authentication phone call, and IT can take appropriate action on the spot.

Key Benefits include:

Secure two-factor authentication

No special consulting or training

No inconvenient tokens or USB devices

No client software to deploy

No equipment to purchase

Easy to set up, manage, and use

24/7 support

Key Features include:

Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) and RADIUS integration

Import from Active Directory (user names and phone numbers)

Web-based sign up

Centralized Web reporting

Standard and PIN modes with customizable rules

SSL communication between agent and POP -- easy to set up and maintain

Master/slave replication between servers

Phone number or PIN changes from the Web or phone menu interface

Customizable customer support phone (caller ID and direct connect)

Customized greetings

PhoneFactor is ideally suited to replace smart cards and tokens for a variety of applications that require strong authentication, such as business applications like Citrix, Outlook Web Access, SAP and more. It is also compatible with VPN solutions such as Positive Networks PositivePRO, Juniper, Cisco, Aventail, SonicWALL, F5 and more. The uses for PhoneFactor are limitless.

About Positive Networks

Positive Networks is the leading provider of hosted security services, including the award-winning PositivePRO VPN service and the PhoneFactor two-factor authentication service. PositivePRO VPN service provides secure remote access and endpoint security without an SSL VPN appliance, and PhoneFactor is the industry's first easy-to-use phone-based two-factor authentication service. Both services can be set up quickly, and include 24/7 end user and IT administrator support.

Unlike traditional VPN solutions, PositivePRO is easy to implement and requires no hardware for IT managers to purchase, install or maintain. The managed service combines a client-based VPN, a clientless, Web-based SSL VPN and remote desktop control into a single remote access service that scales to support thousands of users. Positive Networks' PhoneFactor service enables two-factor authentication using any phone, instead of requiring expensive tokens. PhoneFactor makes two-factor authentication available for anyone that needs security when accessing critical information.

Positive Networks was awarded "Best-in-Class" Managed SSL VPN Service Provider for SMBs by Stratecast Partners and was an AlwaysON AO100 selection. PositivePRO is a 2006 IT Week Magazine, Network Technology, Service Provider Weekly, Security Week, PC News Weekly, Hosting Weekly, and WebWeek Magazine "Editor's Choice" selection, and an Info Security Product Guide Product Excellence Award winner for Best SSL VPN Managed Service. The company was a finalist for a 2007 SC Magazine Excellence Award. PhoneFactor is a 2007 eWEEK Analyst's Choice Award winner. For more information, please call 877-668-6536 or visit www.positivenetworks.com or www.phonefactor.net.

PositivePRO, PhoneFactor and Positive Networks are trademarks of Positive Networks; all other company, product and publication names are trademarks of their respective holders.

Source: Business Wire

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