AET’s SafeSign middleware is used to tie digital signature smartcards, SIM cards and USB tokens into applications to secure access to them.
Following a strategic global alliance signed between AET and NEC Deutschland GmbH, the system will be developed to issue a forgery-proof, encrypted smart card with electronic authorization certificates protected by biometrics. Instead of a conventional PIN, a smart card will hold a user’s fingerprint, and after authentication the SafeSign Biometric system will then release the certificate on the smart card to grant access.
NEC has been developing biometrics and fingerprint recognition since 1969. Its systems uses fingerprint recognition algorithms originally developed for law enforcement and national identity applications used by such organizations as the FBI, the US Criminal Justice and Singapore Immigration Authority. Its so-called PID Positive Identification system is a one or two-finger capture, store, search, and match system that provides identification and verification of individuals for secure authentication.
The company’s smart card-based systems are used to control both physical access to premises, as well as logical access to computers and networks. They let users digitally sign emails using their fingerprint, to guarantee of message non-repudiation.
NEC’s Security Solutions business unit is targeting private and public sector organizations with a single-sign-on digital identity system that uses such a combination of physical and electronic security features around its TouchPass enterprise access control system.
This article is based on material originally published by ComputerWire
