RSA Smart Card Protects Critical Digital Credentials

Portable Credential Store Combines Security with Convenience, Doubles as Employee Badge and Building Access Card

Bedford, Mass., October XX, 1999 – Extending its family of smart card authentication solutions, RSA Security, Inc. (NASDAQ: RSAS) today delivered the most secure and convenient way to store all of a user’s critical, private digital credentials. The RSA SecurID 3100 Smart Card provides the best way to maintain the integrity of PKI-based network security by preventing unauthorized access to these credentials through strong, two-factor user authentication, ensuring that an individual presenting digital credentials as proof of identity is actually the rightful owner.

The RSA SecurID 3100 securely stores two sets of 512- or 1024-bit RSA public and private cryptographic keys, two X.509 v3 digital certificates, symmetric file encryption keys and network operating system authentication information in a convenient, portable form factor that can double as an employee ID badge and building access card. By presenting the card and entering the correct PIN, an individual can then use the credentials for encrypting local or shared files, establishing secure, encrypted web and e-mail sessions and accessing multiple applications. The RSA SecurID 3100 also facilitates single sign-on to Novell NetWare and Microsoft Windows NT networks and offers remote access to the RSA ACE/Server through the RSA Keon Desktop.

“Although digital certificates can provide digital authentication, they are not fully secure without strong user authentication,” said Scott Schnell, senior vice president of marketing for RSA Security. “Without strong user authentication, a digital certificate is about as much good as a passport without a photograph of its owner attached.”

In addition to serving as a secure, portable PKI credential store, the RSA SecurID 3100 can be used as an employee badge and building access card, reducing the number of cards an individual needs to carry around. Organizations can custom order graphical identification on the smart card such as company logo and user name. Each smart card also incorporates a magnetic stripe, which can be programmed for use with existing physical building access systems. In addition, RSA SecurID 3100 functionality can be integrated with proximity (non-contact) building access cards.

The RSA SecurID 3100 smart card works hand-in-hand with the RSA SecurID software token application “shell” on the RSA Keon Desktop. The application shell communicates with the smart card to use the patented RSA SecurID seed record, which is securely stored on the smart card, to strongly authenticate the user.

The RSA SecurID 3100 smart card works with any RSA ACE/Server security solution, including applications for remote access (dial-up or VPN), local network access and access to web applications and other mission-critical applications. This solution offers the same high level of security as any RSA SecurID authenticator, only now the process is integrated with a PKI credential store, and is more convenient and easier to use than ever.

The RSA SecurID 3100 smart card supports ISO 7816 standards for smart cards, PC/SC Workgroup Specifications for smart card readers and X.509 v 3 certificates, and works with any fully compliant PC/SC smart card reader, including the Gemplus GCR410 Serial PC/SC Reader (available from RSA Security), the Gemplus GPR400 PC Card (PCMCIA) Reader (available from RSA Security) and the Setec Setcad 203.

Availability and Pricing

[TBD]

RSA Security Inc.

RSA Security Inc., The Most Trusted Name in e-Security™, helps organizations build secure, trusted foundations for e-businesses through its RSA SecurID? two-factor authentication, RSA BSAFE? encryption and RSA Keon™ public key management systems. As the global integration of Security Dynamics and RSA Data Security, RSA Security has the proven leadership, innovative technology and systems experience to address the changing security needs of e-business and bring trust to the new, online economy. RSA Security can be reached at www.rsasecurity.com.

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BSAFE and SecurID are registered trademarks, and Keon, RSA and The Most Trusted Name in e-Security are trademarks of RSA Security Inc. All other products and services mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies.