Hitachi and Evidian partner on secure single sign-on
Employee ‘password overload’ is tipping point for finger vein scanning technology
LONDON – Hitachi, a pioneer of finger-vein scanning technology, is to integrate its Finger Vein H1 identification device with the leading Evidian IAM Suite 8, Enterprise Single Sign-On (E-SSO) technology.
The combined package enables organisations to implement cost-effective identity management, giving users simple access to applications without the need for multiple passwords, and without compromising security.
As businesses look to manage access to a wide range of applications, the average number of passwords employees manage has crept towards double figures. This ‘password overload’ has led employees to routinely flout security policy by writing down passwords, or keeping the same insecure log-in details for all applications. Forgotten passwords have also become a constant headache for IT helpdesks, with each call estimated to cost in excess of £30 to process.
Evidian Enterprise SSO core functionalities include enforcement of password policy, audit of application access and strong authentication support. The biometric authentication through the integration with Hitachi’s finger vein scanner means that files will not fall into the wrong hands. The combined offering also enables organisations to comply with regulations including HIPAA, SOX and PCI DSS by providing a highly accurate audit trail of user activity.
Hassan Maad, COO of Evidian, commented: “One of the easiest ways for businesses to minimise their exposure to data breaches is to make sure security policies are as easy to follow as possible. Forcing employees to manage an ever-expanding number of passwords does not fit those criteria in any way. Our partnership with Hitachi simplifies the process by ensuring users never have to remember a single password to gain access to all the applications they need.”
Hitachi’s Finger Vein H1 USB devise is a compact scanner that verifies a person’s identity from their individual finger vein pattern. The quick and non invasive scan uses infrared light to capture vein configurations in seconds. By identifying patterns within the human body, outside elements such as dirt or oil do not affect the scans, and manipulations are near impossible.
Ravi Ahluwalia, Head of Business Development Hitachi, said: “One of the biggest challenges businesses face is to ensure users are who they say they are when they log onto an application. Traditional password log-ins have long been recognised as a weak link, so adding an ever-growing number of passwords is simply papering over the cracks.”
“Compliance regulations and the recognition that the majority of threats come from inside an organisation have brought into stark relief the need for a new approach. Our highly secure biometric authentication will enable businesses to embrace single sign-on software with confidence.”
It is estimated that identity theft is costing the UK economy alone in the region of £1.7 billion a year with recent reports indicating 80% of published data breaches arise as a result of internal sources.
Inquiries
For further information, please contact:
Daniela Karthaus
PR Manager, Hitachi Europe
01628 585 379
Daniela.karthaus@hitachi-eu.com
About Hitachi Europe Ltd.
Hitachi Europe Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., Japan. Headquartered in Maidenhead, UK, it has operations in 16 countries and employs over 5400 people across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. As a ‘Best Solutions Partner’ Hitachi Europe tailors its services and solutions to meet the specific needs of its customers. Hitachi Europe comprises eleven key business areas: Rail systems, power and industrial systems; information systems; high performance computing; digital media, consumer products; automotive; air-conditioning and refrigeration systems; procurement and sourcing; and corporate technology group (research & development) and the Hitachi Design Centre. For more information about Hitachi Europe Ltd., please visit http://www.hitachi.eu.
About Hitachi Ltd.
Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 400,000 employees worldwide. In fiscal 2008 (ended March 31, 2009) consolidated revenues totaled 10,000 billion yen ($102.0 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials, logistics and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company’s website at http://www.hitachi.com.
About Evidian
Evidian, an affiliate of Bull Group, is the European leader and one of the major worldwide vendors of identity and access management (IAM) software. Evidian’s solutions include IAM Suite, high availability and network and system management. Evidian has offices and partners throughout the world. Evidian software helps over 700 organisations in the world to improve their agility, enhance security and comply with laws and regulations, while reducing costs. For more information about Evidian software, offices and partners, visit www.evidian.com
