As organizations strive to meet privacy and data protection compliance, they are increasingly looking to identity and remote access control solutions. This is a necessary component of the security infrastructure in order to protect sensitive network resources. In addition, opening a secure network to remote users also opens it up to threats such as ID theft, malicious attack, and data compromise. IT administrators are challenged with the complex task of providing greater access to resources, to more constituents than ever, and from more remote locations.

Unfortunately, many organizations are still relying on password security for users logging into the network. Yet passwords have long been proven to be a highly vulnerable mechanism to authenticate or prove user identity.

SafeWord® Two-factor authentication presents a strong – and proven – solution, however, and many organizations are using it today. This solution employs small, handheld “tokens” that generate a “one-time” secure passcode. The passcode, when combined with a user’s secret PIN, provides two types (“factors”) of authentication and a highly secure method of proving user identity when logging on to a secure network through a VPN or other remote access gateway. Employees, business partners and contractors, for example, can use their tokens when accessing network data from a remote location such as their home office.

But a hardware token is only one form of this solution. Mobile devices such as the BlackBerry, Palm and other types of phones are fast becoming indispensable tools for workforce productivity. They keep users in touch and are rarely left behind. Enter SafeWord MobilePass.

MobilePass® allows users to use their mobile phones to generate their secure one-time passcodes—just like a token. It works by using a small software program that is easily downloaded onto users’ mobile devices. And it works with any BlackBerry, Palm, J2ME- or Windows Mobile-enabled mobile phones. Users simply activate the application with a single touch of a button, and their one-time passcodes are generated right on the device’s screen—just like pushing the button on hardware token. The user then enters that passcode onto their computer, along with their personal PIN, to log into the organization’s secure network. This process provides proof-positive assurance of the user's identity prior to their being authorized access to sensitive patient records and other network resources, applications and data.

"A growing number of companies are relying on mobile phones to help their workforce stay connected to their core businesses," said Sally Hudson, research director at IDC. "Two-factor authentication solutions like SafeWord have been successful at protecting remote connections to corporate networks and applications. With products such as MobilePass, the mobile workforce has the flexibility and convenience of using the mobile device they already carry with them everywhere. IDC believes this type of solution will appeal to companies that have deployed mobile phones in large numbers, and would like to leverage that investment when implementing a two-factor authentication strategy."

MobilePass provides users with the convenience of using their mobile phones, which they already carry everywhere. And, it provides the security of proven two-factor authentication to enable protected remote access to the trusted network.

Mobile authentication solutions can reduce costs, such as those associated with deploying remote access and user authentication systems, and provide a very low total cost of ownership. Further, once the software-based authenticator is deployed, it will not expire and never needs to be replaced. And, since it can be used by users’ mobile devices, it provides a new level of convenience and usability.

Now, enterprises can rely on a complete mobile authentication solution. As the organizations takes advantage of new remote access technologies, such as SSL VPN networks, as well as the benefits of mobile phones to improve worker productivity, these types of mobile authentication offerings will have found a good home.