RSA Security has announced its RSA Capital segment has acquired 3-G International (3GI), a privately held company that develops and delivers smart card and biometric authentication products, to help advance its position as a leading provider of authentication solutions. Total consideration for the acquisition net of cash is approximately $12 million.
"We created the new and emerging security technology group within RSA Capital for just this kind of strategic, long-term investment," said Art Coviello, president and CEO of RSA Security. "By acquiring 3GI and its next-generation technologies at this time, we believe we will be better positioned to extend our leadership in the authentication market and capitalise on new opportunities as they materialise."
As a result of this acquisition, RSA Security is introducing a new smart card authentication solution called RSA SecurID Passage, which is designed to offer greater security than traditional passwords as the means to access workstations, networks and applications.
It combines the multi-application functionality of a Java card with the digital signing capabilities of a PKI smart card. Organisations can now deploy a single authentication solution that protects access to a wide range of critical applications, including network login, secure e-mail, forms processing, secure Web access and secure building access.
The RSA SecurID Passage product helps enhance the security of Windows 2000 by providing smart card login and also supports other leading certificate authorities. In addition, it enables companies to easily migrate from passwords to digital certificates in a PKI implementation.
"RSA Security`s strategy is to continue to lead the authentication market by offering customers the widest possible range of world-class solutions," said Scott Schnell, senior vice president of marketing and corporate development of RSA Security.
"This acquisition enables us to deliver a flexible, multi-application smart card solution today, and positions us to expand our authentication family to include a biometric solution as customer demand warrants."
"Integrating the 3GI smart card solution will enhance RSA Security`s authentication offerings," said Daniel Blum, senior vice president and research director at The Burton Group, an industry analyst firm. "The multi-application capabilities of the new RSA SecurID Passage smart card products will expand RSA Security`s two factor, token-based functionality and solutions."
Availability and pricing
The RSA SecurID Passage smart card solution, which includes the RSA SecurID Passage Desktop client software, a RSA SecurID 4100 Java Card smart card and a PC/SC smart card reader, is available immediately.
For more information, please visit www.rsasecurity.com/go/3gi/. A complete list of RSA Secured partners is available at www.rsasecurity.com/partners/secured.
Share