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CRYPTOCard Announces Full Support for Apple's Intel-Based Macs at Macworld (Booth 1642)

Posted on: Tuesday, 10 January 2006, 18:00 CST

CRYPTO-Server 6.4 for OS X's Two-Factor Authentication Seamlessly Integrates with PowerPC or Intel-Based Macs to Eliminate Insecure Static Password Access to Desktops, Laptops, and Apache Web Servers

CRYPTOCard (www.cryptocard.com), the leading Mac authentication technology developer, today announced that its newly-launched CRYPTO-Server 6.4 for OS X seamlessly integrates with Apple's Macintosh(R) computers utilizing Intel(R) microprocessors. Designed to fully integrate with Tiger's robust support for smart card environments, CRYPTO-Server 6.4's simple 'One-PIN-and-You're-In(TM)' two-factor authentication makes it easy for an organization to implement a single 'authenticator' to provide secure building, door, elevator, LAN, VPN, web-based (Apache and II S), and desktop access for OS X (Panther/Tiger).

Specifically developed to integrate with both PowerPC or Intel-based Macs, CRYPTO-Server 6.4 for OS X provides simple and secure LAN, Web, and remote authenticated access by coupling something in the user's possession (a smart card or token), with something the user knows (their PIN). CRYPTO-Server generates a one-time password for every log-on attempt, making stolen credentials useless to hackers while simultaneously ensuring users do not have to memorize complicated credentials - significantly reducing the help-desk costs associated with resetting forgotten passwords, and the obvious security risk resulting from users writing down their passwords.

CRYPTO-Server 6.4 for OS X's new features, include:

-- A new M2M (machine to machine) architecture - a much faster, smaller footprint solution that improves user and system admin experience

-- Apple's convenient Keychain application manages all of a user's important and private passwords but is only protected by a static password itself - CRYPTO-Server 6.4 protects Keychain with a 2nd authentication and guards these valuable corporate and personal assets

-- Protection for a mobile workstation (laptop) even when connection to the CRYPTO-Server is not possible. Developed for the deployed workforce, CRYPTO-Server 6.4 provides client-based 'Disconnected Authentication' that can take place when the server is not detected

CRYPTO-Server 6.4 also provides full support for a heterogeneous network, where (for example) Mac workstations live in a Windows domain often with a combination of Linux and Windows clients with web support from an Apache web server. This is important as most organizations employ heterogeneous network environments in which any combination of OS X, Windows, or Linux servers can support any client/end-user systems running on any of the three platforms.

"A true Mac authentication technology developer, CRYPTOCard understands that Apple's partnership with Intel further underscores Apple's goal to provide its customers with the best personal computers in the world," said Malcolm MacTaggart, President & CEO, CRYPTOCard. "Strong security tops most organizations list of 'must-haves,' and companies understand that this is not possible if each individual user cannot be positively authenticated," MacTaggart continued. "CRYPTO-Server 6.4 for OS X makes it simple for organizations utilizing PowerPC or Intel-based Macs to provide true ATM-style 'One-PIN-and-You're-In(TM)' enterprise-class strong user authentication for LAN, VPN, Web, or remote system access."

CRYPTO-Server provides administrators with centralized authentication and management capability, emphasizing ease-of-use and tight integration with Apple's Open Directory LDAP services, to not only make it simple for administrators to enforce two-factor authentication as the only way to access a workstation, but to also make it easy to lock down access through VPN's, Portals, and web servers.

A true enterprise solution, CRYPTO-Server utilizes real-time multi-master replication functionality to offer "High Availability" - ensuring there can be no single point of failure by switching to a replica server in the event of system failure. CRYPTO-Server also makes it easy for organizations to create a token-deployment database by reading on a real-time basis from OpenLDAP, while its CRYPTO-Deploy component makes instantly distributing software tokens from any computer, to any user an equally simple task for administrators. CRYPTO-Server's versatile software tokens can reside on a user's desktop, laptop, multi-function smart card, or Pocket PC.

CRYPTO-Server's remote access functionality offers support for Cisco and Apple's VPN Server, with the same "One-PIN-and-You're-In." experience, however, if hardware tokens are employed, no additional software is required on the client side - CRYPTO-Server 6.4 for OS X is ready to go, "out-of-the-box." CRYPTO-Server's CRYPTO-Web component makes it simple for Tiger and Panther users to utilize the exact same ATM-style log-on protocol to positively authenticate themselves to Apache and IIS Websites, right down to the page level.

CRYPTO-Server's other components include CRYPTO-Kit, which provides developers with the tools to make it simple to integrate CRYPTOCard's technology with existing security applications/systems, and CRYPTO-Migration, which provides RSA Migration functionality to enable organizations to switch from an alternative system.

As a Macworld Special, a five-user bundle (all-you-need-in-1-box - the full server software plus five tokens) is available at a 50% savings for only $249 U.S. (SRP). CRYPTOCard's products are available from Apple's Federal Website and via resellers in over 70 other countries. For more information on CRYPTO-Server 6.4 for OS X, please visit CRYPTOCard (Booth 1642) at Macworld, or visit www.cryptocard.com.

About CRYPTOCard Corporation

Established in 1989, CRYPTOCard provides cost-effective Secure Password Technology to leading enterprises worldwide in the government, technology, aerospace, financial, telecommunications, and healthcare sectors. Winner of the "Best of Show," award at Macworld, CRYPTOCard positively authenticates a user's identity by coupling something in the user's possession (a smart card, hardware token, or software token), with something the user knows (their PIN), and provides centralized authentication for all physical and network access regardless of network infrastructure or user location. CRYPTOCard's partners include Cisco (Nasdaq:CSCO), Check Point (Nasdaq:CHKP), Citrix (Nasdaq:CTXS), Entrust (Nasdaq:ENTU), Oracle (Nasdaq:ORCL), Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq:SUNW), and Macromedia (Nasdaq:MACR). For additional information on CRYPTOCard, please visit www.cryptocard.com.

CRYPTOCard, CRYPTO-Server, CRYPTO-Admin, CRYPTO-Deploy, and CRYPTO-Logon, CRYPTO-VPN, CRYPTO-Web are trademarks of CRYPTOCard Corporation. Other products mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Source: Business Wire

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