VeriSign, Inc. a leading provider of intelligent infrastructure services for the Internet and telecommunications networks, today announced that it has delivered on previously disclosed plans to offer a strong authentication solution based on the Microsoft Windows environment. A strategic roadmap outlining these plans was first announced in 2003 at the Microsoft TechEd conference.

Announced earlier today, VeriSign Unified Authentication is a new security solution that enables enterprises to utilize a single, integrated platform for all their strong authentication needs. It tightly integrates VeriSign’s security infrastructure with Microsoft Windows Server 2003 platform and builds upon key Microsoft technologies such as Active Directory, Microsoft Certificate Server, and the Microsoft Internet Authentication Services components. VeriSign Unified Authentication will be available to customers starting September 30, 2004.

“VeriSign Unified Authentication provides greater flexibility, better integration, simpler deployment and lower costs than traditional authentication solutions. By integrating directly with their existing technology investments, including Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000 Server and Active Directory, VeriSign Unified Authentication allows an organization to greatly enhance their authentication capability without having to increase the infrastructure they manage on a day-to-day basis.” said Judy Lin, executive vice president of VeriSign Security Services. “When VeriSign and Microsoft entered into our strategic partnership, it was with the purpose and commitment to bring more advanced security solutions to market. VeriSign Unified Authentication is the first example of the benefits of that partnership.”

VeriSign Unified Authentication supports a wide range of One-Time Password (OTP) and PKI credentials that can be deployed in desktop software, smart card and USB token form factors, including VeriSign’s new hybrid token which combines both OTP and PKI capabilities into a single security device. This highly extensible solution increases the flexibility enterprises have in deploying different types of authentication technology across multiple users, applications, devices and networks while leveraging their existing technology investment in the Windows platform. To facilitate integration into other applications and network infrastructure, VeriSign Unified Authentication is built on ubiquitous open standards such as LDAP and RADIUS.

VeriSign’s Unified Authentication solution also aims at significantly enhancing PKI interoperability across Microsoft and VeriSign customers. Available in October 2004, a new service component, VeriSign’s Certificate Interoperability Service, will allow customers who have deployed Microsoft CA server as part of their Windows Server 2003 or Windows 2000 Server installation to obtain the benefits of chaining to the VeriSign Trust Network. This will allow customers to maximize PKI interoperability with their partners, while further utilizing their Microsoft investment to deliver stronger security for users, devices, applications, networks.

“In listening to customer feedback, Microsoft has recognized the customer need for integrated solutions that enable strong authentication to the internal Windows environment, and beyond to our customers’ extended partner network,” said Selena Wilson, Microsoft Director of Windows Security Product Management, “Our customers want more choice in their security products, with less complexity and lower cost. VeriSign’s Unified Authentication solution provides this level of flexibility while helping to securely extend an enterprise network, and provide customers with a significant increase in their ROI.”

For more information, visit Verisign.