Trustwave's MyIdentity solution has a mobile authentication option
(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Information security and compliance solutions provider Trustwave says authentication is key for companies looking to keep information on a public network safe, and two-factor authentication features an extra layer of security to verify users identity when accessing a network from a different location.
Recently Truswave announced that it has improved its two-factor authentication solution, MyIdentity, to include a smart phone capability as well as many other enhancements.
Trustwave says MyIdentity now gives users several different authentication options once they have logged into their network, including its new MyIdentity Mobile option. The options are available to provide users with flexibility, and ensure users are not tied to the same authentication mechanism each time they log in.
In an email Q&A with the WHIR, Brian Trzupek, vice president of managed identity and SSL at Trustwave, discusses how Trustwave has improved its two-factor authentication solution, and how the diverse authentication options set its solution apart.
WHIR: Was Trustwave MyIdentity developed in response to the recent SSL breaches that have many web visitors concerned, or was this solution in the works prior to that?
Brian Trzupek: Trustwave has offered a Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) solution for almost two years now. The product continues to improve as we respond to customer feedback and suggestions and integrate new authentication methods like smart phone capability into our solution. These enhancements have resulted in the latest release of Trustwave MyIdentity.
WHIR: Is there a type of customer Trustwave had in mind when developing MyIdentity?
BT: Trustwave MyIdentity has a strong history with both the SMB and enterprise markets. It can help a cost sensitive customer with minimal IT staff rapidly and cost-effectively achieve strong 2FA. It can also provide a robust authentication platform for Enterprise customers that have a more diverse set of requirements, such as geographically distributed users with many roles, accessing many types of systems from a variety of devices and meeting stringent security standards.
WHIR: Can you describe what two-step authentication is and why it is important?
BT: Two-Factor Authentication combines two independent forms of identification for each authentication (login) to provide a separate range of attack vectors in the event one of the authentication credentials is compromised. This is generally accomplished by asking for something you know (username and password) and producing something you have (mobile device or token).
WHIR: How do MyIdentity’s different authentication options provide more security?
BT: Trustwave MyIdentity provides enhanced flexibility with its broader authentication options. We offer several options of authentication (including SMS, soft-token, voice callback, digital certificate, and push notifications) that can be chosen at the time of authentication, based on what the user authenticating has in hand. In addition, the user is not tied to the same authentication mechanism each time they log in. It’s this diverse and flexible offering that makes us different.
WHIR: Trustwave says MyIdentity is a more cost-effective solution than a token-based solution. Can you explain how MyIdentity’s pricing works and how it differs from token-based solutions?
BT: Since there are no physical tokens to purchase, ship to employees, reset pins for, lose and replace, damage or expire – we can reduce the costs associated with every one of those token-based authentication challenges. Additionally, we offer one low, flat, per user price that includes every authentication method. The user is not tied to just one method of authentication. We also enable self-service end user provisioning to get customers into the system. The combination of our tokenless platform with our low touch user provisioning process drastically reduces the total cost of ownership for the solution.
About Nicole Henderson
Nicole Henderson writes full-time for the Web Host Industry Review where she covers daily news and features online, as well as in print. She has a bachelor of journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto, and has been writing for the WHIR since September 2010. You can find her on Twitter @NicoleHenderson.
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