ActivCard Provides Smart Card Management and Software to New IBM Identity Management Security Soluti

IBM created this new solution in association with ActivCard, Bioscrypt, ImageWare and VeriSign. Using IBMs Tivoli identity management software, software from ActivCard, and solutions from the other companies, the new solution extends ID management beyond traditional information technology applications such as operating systems and networks, to include physical identity security characteristics contained in biometrics, smart cards and badge-reader technologies. This new solution is designed to be incorporated into the basic processes that businesses and agencies use in their day-to-day operations, while adding additional security through enhanced authentication and authorization. Thus, organizations can simultaneously protect their logical assets such as data, applications and IT networks -- with their physical assets such as buildings, workplaces and grounds. Until now, companies only offered ID-management systems that protected both logical and physical assets on a limited scale. Todays announcement is particularly important to government agencies and businesses as this new, easy-to-use solution can accommodate large volumes of users. However, integrating secure identity and authentication can be extremely complex, costly and time consuming. It is further complicated as companies add or subtract workers, devices, workplace locations, partners or vendors. In each case, passwords or other protective processes - known as touch points - need to be controlled and managed, adding to the complexity. The new solution is on display at IBMs Institute for Electronic Government in Washington, D.C. and adds to IBMs Government Security Consulting practice portfolio. This group harnesses IBMs security consultants, IT services, hardware and software solutions and IBM Research expertise to deliver innovative security solutions worldwide.