Secure Smart Card Management Features Incorporated in New Columbitech Wireless Suite 2.0

For industries embracing smart cards as a reliable method for identity verification, Columbitech adds digital certificate management. Columbitech now makes it easier for smart card verification even if a smart card is lost or misplaced. With Columbitechs solution, the IT administrator can still authenticate the user, issue an emergency soft certificate, and grant the remote user access to the corporate server. This feature ensures that the user can access the server securely without delays even if a smart card is lost. Another feature is the ability to unlock dialogs for locked smart cards. When a user incorrectly attempts to login to the corporate server three times, and is denied access, the soft certificate with a master code can be used to unlock the smart card dialog and gain access. Many organizations are now requiring additional methods of security like adding authentication via a smart card and digital certificate for remote user authorization to a corporate LAN. Industries like the government are widely deploying smart cards. According to the GSA, more than 4 million Smart Cards were issued last year with the Department of Defense (DoD) as the largest customer. Version 2.0 enables smoother legitimate access to the corporate LAN for the growing base of smart card-enabled remote users. In addition, Columbitech supports the DoD smart card method of Common Access Card (CAC). Start-up Vulnerabilities Eliminated Another important feature now added to Columbitech Wireless Suite 2.0 includes protecting any wireless device against vulnerabilities during the initial start-up process. During this login period, many users dont realize that devices are vulnerable to attacks and most security applications dont begin protection until after the login process has been completed. Columbitech recognizes this vulnerable period during initial login and begins to provide protection with the first keystrokes prior to final start-up safeguarding the system from outside attacks. All these features are brought to the user via Columbitechs unique single sign-in feature. Users have multiple layers of security without multiple log-ins and passwords to remember. Now they can have a single sign-in screen on a wireless device that will gain access to the corporate data via a transparent connection with a secure VPN. This feature is especially useful for industries like transportation & logistics and retail where users require an easy-to-use solution that is convenient while on the road to have continuous secure access during a single session. Columbitech Wireless Suite 2.0 will be generally available at the end of March. The Suite supports all major wireless and wirelined network standards based on IP traffic, such as wireless WLAN (802.11b), CDPD, 3G, ADSL, ISDN and PSTN, giving customers the ability to add on new wireless options without having to reinvest in new infrastructure for each new network. For the most comprehensive support for various operating systems, Columbitech Wireless Suite Version 2.0 supports Windows 2000, NT 4.0 servers, and Linux servers and offers clients for Windows 2000/XP, Pocket PC 2002, Windows Mobile 2003 and Windows CE.Net 4.1. The new support for Linux servers, Windows Mobile 2003 and Windows CE.Net 4.1 clients is a result of Columbitechs strong presence in vertical industries such as retail and transport and logistics. The added platform support will open up new markets that have not been explored before, in retailing and other industries where handheld devices are commonly used.