Today Thales announced that its product SafeSign, a single platform solution which enables digital authentication of multiple identities, now allows for integration with IBM Tivoli Access Manager for e-Business. These products allow customers to strongly authenticate users and simultaneously define the access control parameters for each authenticated identity.

The use of SafeSign and Tivoli Access Manager creates a stringent and tamper-evident audit trail. Tivoli Access Manager can demonstrate which resources have been accessed by each user, whilst SafeSign can verify every individual identity that has logged onto the system. Importantly, SafeSign allows detection of altered compliance records at a later date. The integrated use of both technologies creates a robust audit trail.

The integration of these two technologies has been recognised with the official membership of Thales to the IBM ‘Ready for Tivoli’ programme. Thales gained this approval after building a demonstration system in which Tivoli Access Manager and SafeSign were successfully integrated, and by supplying documentation giving step-by-step advice on how best to achieve this. Thales’ pilot took just two weeks to implement and was demonstrated using Chip and PIN as the authentication method.

Peter Jopling, head of security management for the UKISA region, IBM, said: “The SafeSign interface to Tivoli Access Manager further extends our ability to support complex authentication environments. SafeSign provides multi-channel authentication supporting a wide range of digital certificates and two factor authentication which creates a compelling proposition."

Paul Meadowcroft, head of transaction security at Thales e-Security said: “Our customers, especially those in the banking and insurance industries, have demanded an integrated solution that allows authenticated identities to be mapped onto access control scenarios. Such a system is best practice in an environment where strong audit trails are now essential.”

About Thales
Thales is an international electronics and systems group, serving defence, aerospace, services and security markets. The group employs 60000 people worldwide and generated revenues of €10.3 billion in 2004.

Operating in three main markets covering e-security, card payment and network security, Thales’ e-security activities address the business, government and finance industries’ need for cryptographic security products and solutions. Over half of the world’s banks, together with the majority of the busiest exchanges, currently use Thales technology. For more than 20 years the company has been at the forefront of security and payment technology, cooperating and contributing to set the industry standards used for financial transactions and e-commerce globally. Thales’ e-security business offers a wide range of security solutions to protect Government and Defence critical information infrastructures, thereby positioning the company as a leading worldwide supplier of certified network security products.

About SafeSign
SafeSign is the first middle office system to offer a strategic approach to identity management and transaction authentication that in turn removes complexity through the use of a single platform between the front and back office. Transactions from multiple trust schemes can be easily integrated and secured, regardless of format or whether from third parties, enabling current investments to be exploited. All transactions, whatever their source, can be authenticated on the single SafeSign platform that is seamlessly integrated with front and back office systems.

About IBM
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. Drawing on resources from across IBM and key Business Partners, IBM offers a wide range of services, solutions and technologies that enable customers, large and small, to take full advantage of the new era of e-business. For more information about IBM, visit www.ibm.com.

Contacts
Sarah Milligan
Thales
+44 (0) 1844 204181
sarah.milligan@thales-esecurity.com

Sharon Brennan
Hotwire PR
+44 (0) 20 7608 4628
sharon.brennan@hotwirepr.com