RSA Security is to add biometric recognition technology to its popular line of two-factor authentication products. This will give customers the opportunity to add another layer of authentication to its identity management system.

RSA Security will integrate Precise Biometrics' Precise BioMatch fingerprint authentication technology with RSA SecurID Passage smart card software and the RSA SecurID USB Token to enable strong protection and validation of a user's identity based on a biometric.

RSA plans to provide an integrated biometric/smart card package for customers who want either strong two or three-factor authentication. This technology could be used in applications such as protect access to corporate apps, to unlock credentials stored on a smart card, or to digitally sign electronic forms or documents.

Organisations needing to balance ease of use with another level of security can select from either two or three-factor authentication with the use of a smart card or USB token (something you have) the biometric (something you are) and a PIN (something you know).

Sarah Kent, RSA bizdev director, said the company is seeing customer interest in three-factor authentication to control access to government buildings. For enterprise customers, integration between RSA's tokens and biometrics technology has ease of use advantages because it means companies can do away with the need to use PINs.

RSA Security expects to make the integration with Precise Biometrics technology available in the second half of 2003.

RSA SecurID Passage replaces static passwords with a Java platform smart card for user authentication to workstations, networks and sensitive data. Its Java Card multi-application capability allows customers to deploy other applications - ranging from electronic purse, custom designed employee applications and now biometric functionality - to the same card. The RSA SecurID USB Token combines a USB device with secure storage of digital credentials on a standards-based Java platform. ®

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