HID launches new smart card to eliminate passwords

HID Global has announced a new smart card product utilizing digital certificates on user mobile devices to perform client authentication. The Crescendo Mobile smart card combines the high security of a physical authenticator with the usability of a mobile solution to enable organizations to eliminate passwords, according to the announcement.

Crescendo Mobile is similar to Crescendo smart cards, and compatible with them, but communicates with a desktop computer by NFC or Bluetooth, rather than being inserted into a smart card reader. For mobile devices, the Crescendo Mobile app is available for Android and iOS. The deployment of the system and distribution of secure cryptographic credentials is simple and avoids the need to invest in card readers. Deployment is particularly cost-effective for contractors and remote workers, HID states.

“End users and IT personnel alike have been clamoring for a highly secure solution for enabling secure access to networked assets that can utilize what people are already carrying, namely their mobile devices,” said Brad Jarvis, Vice President & Managing Director, IAM Solutions, with HID Global. “A key to ensuring security protocols are followed is to ensure that they are as easy to use as possible. The ubiquity of mobile phones, tablets and the like make them an obvious choice to become part of the security system.”

Crescendo Mobile can provide users with access to cloud applications, VPNs, desktop applications, and Microsoft Active Directory, and automatically lock down the workstation when they walk away. It also enables users to carry keys and digital certificates for digitally sign documents, and secure sensitive data by requiring the smartphone to use Windows EFS file encryption to access encrypted emails.

HID also recently launched a new high-speed smart card printer, and acquired Crossmatch in September.

Article Topics

authentication  |  HID  |  mobile device  |  passwords  |  smart card