Product of the Day: Crypto-Server 6.3 Authentication Solution

April 18th, 2005 by Vendor Written in

The following information has been provided by the product vendor and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Linux Journal.
Your rating: None

Product: Crypto-Server 6.3 Authentication Solution

Manufacturer: CRYPTOCard Corporation

Address: 340 March Road, Suite 600, Ottawa, ON, K2K 2E4 Canada

Telephone: 800-307-7042

A Password Authentication Security System for the Paranoid Penguin

One of best ways to hack into your network is with stolen passwords. To administer a password program, users sometimes will have multiple passwords and a regular 6 month update for new passwords. This causes user confusion, lost of time by IT departments for forgotten passwords and defend against phishing attacks. To help prevent this and better secure your networks is to use a two-factor authentication solution. A two factor solution uses a token (smart card/hardware/software) and pin number to secure access.

CRYPTOCard, a leader in authentication technology, will launch CRYPTO-Server 6.3, the first authentication solution designed specifically for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 server and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 server platforms at Linux World Canada (April 18-20). CRYPTOCard will demonstrate CRYPTO-Server's centralized authentication and management capability, emphasizing ease-of-use and tight integration with LDAP directory services. Visitors will also learn how to enforce two-factor authentication as the only way to access a Linux workstation, in addition to locking down access through VPN's, Portals, web servers and more, regardless of the desktop computing environment.

Incorporating CRYPTOCard's familiar Bank ATM-style logon, that has proven to eliminate the user resistance usually encountered when organizations attempt to implement an additional layer of security. CRYPTO-Server couples something in the user's possession (a multi-function smart card, hardware token, or software token), with something the user knows (their PIN), to make it simple to positively identify all Linux users attempting VPN or Web-based access.The user simply logs on through the graphical user interface, enters their PIN & authenticates against the CRYPTO-Server--remove card and display manager (KDM, GDM, XDM) logon locks station.

By generating a unique password for every log-on attempt, CRYPTO-Server makes stolen credentials useless to hackers while simultaneously ensuring users no longer have to memorize complicated credentials, significantly reducing the help-desk costs associated with resetting forgotten passwords, and the obvious security risk resulting from users writing down their passwords.

CRYPTO-Server's Remote access functionality offers support for PPP, SSH, Samba, and VPN and can be used in conjunction with a Smart Card to experience "One-PIN-and-You're-In."

"It is becoming increasingly obvious that an organization cannot guarantee system security if it cannot authenticate each individual user. And, with the introduction of CRYPTO-Logon, CRYPTO-Server makes this a simple process for the fast-growing number of Linux users," explained Malcolm MacTaggart, President & CEO, CRYPTOCard Corporation. CRYPTOCard is proud to be the first authentication provider to provide Linux users with true ATM-style "One-PIN-and-You're-In" secure desktop, web, and remote access.

A true enterprise solution offering High Availability, CRYPTO-Server 6.3 has no single point of failure--switching to a backup server in the event of system failure.Additionally, CRYPTO-Server 6.3 makes it easy for organizations to create a token-deployment database by reading on a real-time basis from OpenLDAP, while the solution's CRYPTO-Deploy component makes it equally simple for administrators to instantly distribute software tokens from any computer, to any user. CRYPTO-Server's versatile software tokens can reside on a user's desktop, laptop, multi-function smart card, or Pocket PC.

CRYPTO-Server 6.3's other components include CRYPTO-Kit, which provides developers with the tools to make it simple to integrate CRYPTOCard's technology with existing security applications/systems; CRYPTO-Deploy, to facilitate the deployment and activation of tokens; and CRYPTO-Migration; which provides RSA Migration functionality that enables organizations to switch from an alternative system (CRYPTOCard's tokens, with replaceable batteries, are deployed once and can be utilized indefinitely).

Deutsche Bank utilizes the RB-1 pinpad token to authenticate its high net worth clients. Realizing that its high net worth clients need to be able to transfer funds from any part of the world, Deutsche Bank issues them with CRYPTOCard's RB-1 pinpad token to enable them to positively authenticate themselves when calling the bank. The client simply calls the bank and enters their PIN number into the wireless token--duplicating the very familiar ATM experience we all know. The bank then receives the PIN number and sends out a randomly-generated password to the user's token. The user can then read back the password from the token screen to the bank staff member to positively authenticate themselves. As the token is useless without the client's PIN number, Deutsch Bank is able to guarantee the user's identity while simultaneously providing the client with a simple, and familiar ATM-style process.

Smart Cards, USB Dongle, Pinpad, Key Chain and Software Tokens Available

Multi-function smart card (SC-1): Provides authenticated access to buildings, elevators, and vending machines/canteens, etc. as well as providing "one-PIN-and-you're-in" LAN, VPN, Web and remote access. The smart card can also be customized to act as the user's picture ID card.

USB dongle token (UB-1): Fits in the USB slot on a computer to provides the same simple, "one-PIN-and-you're-in" LAN, VPN, Web and remote access as the smart card, but without the need for a reader.

Pinpad token (RB-1): Provides the highest level of wireless two-factor authentication by enabling the user to type their PIN into the device in order to receive a password that can then be entered into the computer, spoken over the phone, etc.

Key chain token (KT-1): Provides the ultimate in user-friendly two-factor authentication. The user simply presses a button on the device to receive a unique one-time password. The password is then entered into the computer along with the user's PIN to gain two-factor authenticated access to the system.

Software token (ST-1): Ideal for users that only utilize a single terminal, the software token resides on the desktop, and makes it simple for an administrator to push out the token to the user with the push of a button.

CRYPTO-Server 6.3 for Linux is available now. A five-user bundle (all-you-need-in-1-box--the full server software plus five tokens) is available for $499 (SRP). CRYPTOCard's products are available from Tech Data and other distributors, integrators,and resellers throughout the world.

__________________________


Special Magazine Offer -- 2 Free Trial Issues!
Receive 2 free trial issues of Linux Journal as well as instant online access to current and past issues. There's NO RISK and NO OBLIGATION to buy. CLICK HERE for offer

Linux Journal: delivering readers the advice and inspiration they need to get the most out of their Linux systems since 1994.

Sorry, offer available in the US only. International orders, click here.

Featured Videos

Email is one of the least private and least secure forms of communication, although few people realize this. MixMaster is one way to allow secure, anonymous communication even over the very public medium of email. This tutorial will get you started with MixMaster quickly and easily.

In case you were wondering about the fun side of Linux World Expo, we thought we'd give you a peek at our shenanigans. We at Linux Journal love what we do so much, that we can't help but have a ball wherever we go.

From the Magazine

September 2008, #173

Feeling a bit like a Thermian? Never give up, never surrender! Someday, you could go from underdog to top dog. Just take a look at a few of the underdogs we highlight in this issue: Mutt, djbdns, Nginix, Gentoo, Xara and the program voted mostly likely to fail just a few years back—Firefox. If Firefox not radical enough for you, check out Chef Marcel's column for some more alternatives. Having trouble mapping your program data to your relational database? If so, Rueven Lerner shows you some tricks in his At The Forge column.

Need to run GUI applications on your server in the next state? In his Paranoid Penguin column, Mick Bauer shows you how to do it securely. Kyle Rankin keeps hacking and slashing and shows you a few split screen secrets you may not be familiar with. Finally, we all know what happens next February, but only Doc knows what happens afterward.

Read this issue