Online and Digital Identification, Securing Web 2.0, PKI and Digital Certificates

HID takes logical step

Monday, September 15, 2008

HID Global announced that it is expanding its products in the access control space to include logical access control products. The new products will enable HID’s physical access products to be used for logical access as well.

As part of the announcement, HID says its iCLASS contactless smart cards can be read by the embedded contactless smart card reader in select models of new Dell Latitude E-Family laptops. Organizations can now use a single HID iCLASS card for both physical building access and secure authentication to PCs.

When using an iCLASS card, laptop users can use the Dell pre-boot authentication functionality which helps secure the data on the laptop. When first turning the laptop on, a user will present an iCLASS card to the contactless smart card reader located in the palm rest. A valid card presentation will enable the laptop to boot up and take the user to the Windows operating system.

In the future, users will be able to experience secure, two-factor authentication to the laptop and use their card and a PIN to securely authenticate to either Windows XP or Windows Vista.

Other HID products that enable physical and logical access include:

  • HID on the Desktop: A set of logical access control solutions that can extend the reach of an existing physical access infrastructure. With HID on the Desktop, the same card that is used to open the door can now open Windows on the PC. An HID card or token, an OMNIKEY reader and naviGO software is all a user needs.
  • Crescendo smart cards: A series of multi-technology, off-the-shelf smart cards, Crescendo cards enable convergence by providing standards-compliant support for existing physical and logical access applications.
  • OMNIKEY readers: The OMNIKEY desktop and mobile reader line enables integration and interoperability between PC and smart card. The newest offering is the OMNIKEY 6321, a USB-connected “dongle” reader that supports the use of contactless smart cards for secure two-factor authentication in a mobile computing environment.
  • naviGO: a software package that enables an organization to use its existing physical access control cards for strong two-factor authentication at the desktop.

 [end] 

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