RSA boosts BlackBerry two-factor authentication
By Asavin Wattanajantra,
RSA and Research in Motion (RIM) announced new two-factor authentication developments for BlackBerry smartphones, just after the PDA maker announced its new 3G 'Bold' model.
RSA said that the SecurID Token for BlackBerry provided direct access to Blackberry Mobile Virtual Private Network (VPN), new provisioning options and tighter integration with BlackBerry Enterprise Server. It would be available in the late second quarter of this year.
It was the latest development coming out of a four-year technical relationship between RSA and RIM. The new advancements would allow BlackBerry smartphones to be more easily activated and deployed for use as RSA SecurID two-factor authenticators
RSA, EMC's security division, said these new developments enabled users to leverage wireless corporate networks for secure no-cost access to business applications.
The security division also said that its authentication solutions were engineered to assure identities and lessen risk according to how valuable or critical the data, application or transaction was.
"As BlackBerry smartphones have become standard business devices, our joint customers are able to leverage integrated two-factor authentication technology to streamline IT operations," said Sam Curry, vice president of Product Management and Product Marketing, Identity and Access Assurance Group at RSA.
He added: "By providing a more convenient and cost-effective strong authentication mechanism, we can help our customers gain the most value from their BlackBerry smartphone deployments by enabling more seamless and secure access to sensitive assets."
One of the new features was direct access to BlackBerry Mobile VPN, which would allow a user with a BlackBerry smartphone enabled with Wi-Fi to securely connect in-office to business wireless network access points.
Once connected the user could leverage their business wireless connection for email and application access, without accumulating charges on their data plans - which would get charged back to the company.
Related Tags
advertisement
Latest Security Features
IT around the world: Russia
In the first of an on-going series examining IT markets around the globe, we look at whether investing in Russia is worth the risk – and how to go about it the right way.
- Chinese web control an Olympic challenge for tech firms
- SOS Bletchley Park
- Where will IT be in 2015?
- Q&A: John Stewart, Cisco's chief security officer
- NHS IT - something to celebrate?
- Q&A: Tom Ilube, head of Garlik
- Ten of the most infamous ‘black hat’ hackers
- USB Flash Disks: A modern day business curse?
- Creating a mobile data management policy
Latest Security Reviews
AVG Internet Security SBS Edition 8.0
Rating: 
- Finjan Vital Security Web Appliance NG-6000S
- LogLogic MX2010
- Exclusive: WatchGuard Firebox Core X750e
- Sophos ES4000 Security Appliance
- Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange and SharePoint
- EXCLUSIVE: Juniper Networks SSG 550 UTM appliance
- EXCLUSIVE: Arbor Networks Peakflow X 3.7
- EXCLUSIVE: Check Point UTM-1 1050
- EXCLUSIVE: Finjan Vital Security NG-5100
advertisement
Latest News Videos in Security
Video: Q&A with Richard Archdeacon, Symantec
PlayIT PRO speaks to Richard Archdeacon, director, global services, at the information security software vendor Symantec.
White papers
Want more background on today's hottest IT trends?
Visit IT PRO's white paper library for more on virtualisation, encryption and other topics.
Register for IT PRO
You'll get exclusive member benefits including free white papers, downloads, Webinars and weekly newsletters full of the latest IT PRO news, reviews, insight and expertise.
Social Bookmark this article: What is this?