Authentication newbie makes cow eyes at channel
Ensygnia says its focus on usability marks it out from incumbents
The authentication market's newest contender has kicked off a reseller recruitment push after bagging its first UK patent.
UK-based start-up Ensygnia has been granted a UK patent for its mobile phone-based OneScan authentication service. It also provides an end-point security solution.
Chief executive Richard Harris (pictured), who previously worked for 2FA vendor Swivel Secure, said Ensgnia's focus on usability marks it out from the competition.
"OneScan is a brand new form of authentication, built with the user in mind," he told ChannelWeb.
"The problem with security in general is that it typically causes a pain to the user, whether that be carrying around a token or having to perform some kind of mental jiggery pokery. With OneScan, all you do is pull the phone from your pocket, scan the code, and you're in."
Harris said Ensygnia is happy to work alongside other authentication vendors with its browser hardening end-point security offering, which is designed to lock down any device. The technology is owned by South American outfit Azuan, for which Ensygnia is the first global master distributor, and is perfect for bring-your-own-device (BYOD) projects, according to Harris.
"Not everyone has a smartphone, and SMS, soft tokens and [Swivel's] PINsafe method all have their place," he explained. "We can do a lot to strengthen those offerings and also offer an [authentication] alternative where users want something very simple but secure."
Harris said Ensygnia is actively looking to recruit a channel, comprsing partners specialising in m-commerce, e-commerce or retail and standard security resellers already selling VPNs and authentication technology.
Harris and CTO Matt Deacon started Ensygnia in December and the firm netted its first customer - a US enterprise customer engaging in PCI DSS compliance - in June.
"Rather than coming out with me-too product, we looked at how to thwart all the known threats and provide a pleasant user experience," Harris said.
Chris Russell, vice president of technology at Swivel, questioned the broadness of OneScan's appeal.
"The issue is that I know a lot of people who don't have a smartphone, and even more that don't know what a QR code is. When you are looking at authentication solutions, they have to work for everyone. Our approach is to have a range of solutions."
Grahame Smee, managing director at Cohort, which distributes Swivel Secure, said: "There is always room for products offering something different. The key challenge for any new start-up is getting that message across to the resellers and end users so they understand what that difference is."