Cyber-Ark and Mideye look at mobile alliance

Security vendor Cyber-Ark has joined forces with mobile security vendor Mideye to offer two-factor authentication through a mobile phone.

According to Cyber-Ark, which specialises in vaulting technology, the collaboration will allow its channel to revisit customers and offer the technology as a bolt-on, as well as appealing to new customers, particularly in the e-government space.

The result of the partnership is a product that works with a SIM/GSM phone, using the SIM card as a security token, which eliminates the need for additional hardware and software, according to Calum Macleod, Europ-ean director at Cyber-Ark.

“Every employee now has a mobile phone and deploying authentication onto the SIM card will enable our partners to offer end-users substantial cost-savings in terms of initial investment, administration and support. It is simple to use and works with the whole concept of our vaulting technology.

“It is also good for our partners because they can offer it either as a managed service, or as an addition to their existing offering,” Macleod said, adding that the vendor will be looking to further expand its UK channel in 2006.

“We are definitely looking to get more partners on board, and will also be launching a European user forum in early 2006,” he said.

David Hobson, managing director of Cyber-Ark reseller Global Secure Systems (GSS), welcomed the partnership with Mideye.

“This makes a lot of sense. I think it is a sign of the market moving forward and using different modes of authentication. We are certainly seeing interest from our customers.

“We have been working with Cyber-Ark for many years and it has some really good technology. It is great that we will be able to offer more additions to its existing technology through this partnership,” he said.

sara_yirrell@vnu.co.uk