Commerce Media Bolsters Two-Factor Authentication Celo Solution With A Token

PRESS RELEASE

08 September 2009 " Information security provider Commerce Media has further enhanced its two-factor authentication (2FA) solution with the introduction of tokens.

Commerce Media's 2FA tool, Celo, was launched in 2008 to authenticate users accessing information remotely on either a web-based application or server. Designed to deliver simplicity, cost-effectiveness and end-user convenience, Celo is now available with a token. This means that as well as having the option to use mediums such as a mobile phone, email or pager, Celo implementers can provide a one-time-password (OTP) via a dedicated device.

Michael Robertson, Managing Director of Commerce Media and creator of Celo, said: "As Celo's central management approach facilitates multiple delivery methods of OTPs through a single administration interface, it allows the implementer to decide how the password will be communicated. For example, an implementer may stipulate one channel that will be used for all OTPs, allow different groups to choose different mediums, or even provide individual users with the option to select the delivery method most relevant to them. To support our aim to offer the widest possible choice to customers, and our understanding that tokens are especially valuable to users who are logging in and out frequently, we felt it was important to offer this additional hardware alternative."

To align with Celo's promise to be cost-effective, the entire solution " software and hardware " is competitively priced. Commerce Media believes it to be one of the most economical 2FA tools currently on the market. Michael highlights, however, that this does not come at a cost of a less secure product. He adds: "All our tokens are compliant with the Initiative of Open AuTHentication, OATH, and as Commerce Media is an ISO27001 accredited company, our technology adheres to the highest security standards. Our ability to keep costs down derives from not trying to over complicate the solution with un-required functionality." Celo has the capability to be installed with both RADIUS and the internet communication protocol SOAP simultaneously, can be 'clustered' to facilitate faster performance, and as it can be efficiently connected to multiple servers to retrieve different data sources, can support load balancing technology.

Michael concludes: "It is without doubt that 2FA will continue to grow in popularity. Businesses across all sectors are identifying the benefits of implementing 2FA solutions to support remote working, form part of a disaster recovery and business continuity plan and secure the transfer of financial data on retail sites to comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. And it is not just the private sector. From a public sector perspective, 2FA assists in facilitating shared services and fulfils the secure login requirement of the Government Connect Secure Extranet Code of Connection, enabling satellite branches, partners and employees to securely access central government systems."

Celo was highly commended earlier this year in the SC Magazine Europe Awards 2009. More recently, the solution has been shortlisted in the BCS & Computing 2009 UK IT Industry Awards, Information Security Product of the year category.

For further information or to demo Celo please visit http://www.commercemedia.net/.

-ENDS- For further media information on Celo please contact Sarah Jones or Georgina D'Arcy at iseepr: [email protected] / [email protected] or on +44 (0) 1943 468007. Michael Robertson is also available to provide generic comment on 2FA and online security.

About Commerce Media: Founded in 1999, Commerce Media provides secure bespoke IT solutions and web hosting to public and private sector organisations and is ISO27001 accredited throughout all areas of its business. Earlier this year the Ministry of Defence website created by Commerce Media and used by the Disposal Services Authority to sell surplus stock, won the e-Government Excellence Award for Shared Services. Commerce Media also delivers a two-factor authentication solution, Celo, which has highly commended in the SC Magazine Europe annual awards in the category of Best SME Security Solution. For more information about Commerce Media visit www.commercemedia.net.