Gemalto enables strong authentication on any device via Bluetooth® Smart technology

Gemalto Bluetooth Smart solutions extend open public key cryptographic strong authentication to all devices, in particular all portable computers, tablets and mobile devices

Amsterdam – December 8, 2015 –Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital security, today announced the availability of its SafeNet MobilePKI solution, designed to enable the particularly strong PKI-based authentication and security applications on any device, including those without a USB port or internal reader. SafeNet MobilePKI uses Bluetooth® Smart technology to enable mobile devices to communicate securely with PKI smartcards. As a result, organizations can more fully realize the benefits and opportunities afforded by their mobile applications, and at the same time consistently safeguard integrity and trust with their strong Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) environments.

PKI is one of the most secure trusted security infrastructures today. However, mobile devices are not equipped with the USB ports or smartcard slots which were required to implement the strong PKI technology until now. Gemalto has developed this Bluetooth Smart solution to allow IT departments and organizations to extend the use of PKI credentials to mobile devices, including iOS, Android and Windows.

The solution enables organizations to leverage their existing PKI environments and seamlessly extend them to mobile devices, achieving both security and convenience. It also enables users to leverage PKI security for other use cases on their mobile devices, such as encrypted email and digital signing.

"As mobility becomes increasingly paramount to the success of enterprises, the requirements for secure devices for authentication and digital signatures are becoming greater," said François Lasnier, Senior Vice President for Identity Protection at Gemalto. "SafeNet MobilePKI solution solves the gap of PKI security on mobile devices. It gives users much more confidence, convenience and mobility by allowing their organization to extend their existing strong public key cryptography authentication and credentials to mobile devices."

Offering strong two-factor authentication and email encryption, the SafeNet MobilePKI solution also allows secure remote access to VPNs and websites, so that users are able to perform all secure PKI actions on the go, including advanced functions such as digital signature and data encryption. SafeNet MobilePKI enables easy and simultaneous connection to multiple endpoints with the same Bluetooth device, with pairing detection taking place automatically within a 10 meter range. Organizations where PKI is already deployed will not need to issue new credentials to turn a traditional smart card deployment into one that is mobile workforce ready.

Development kits furthermore allow independent software vendors and Certificate Authorities (CAs) to extend current PKI solutions to mobile devices, and develop new solutions specifically for mobile environments. In order to ensure the best results, Gemalto works closely with technology partners, software developers, OEM partners, CAs and enterprises who want to use SafeNet MobilePKI and develop their own mobile applications.

"Strong authentication and encryption have become a critical component of an overall data protection strategy," said Garrett Bekker, Senior Security Analyst at 451 Research. "With the growth of mobility and adoption of cloud-based applications, it has become clear that organizations need to protect these applications, however they are accessed. PKI can help address mobile use cases, though user complexity can also be a challenge for broad adoption. However, new developments in mobile technology and Bluetooth are helping make PKI more user-friendly and attractive for mobile workforces."

Related Resources
SafeNet MobilePKI Solutions for Enterprises
SafeNet MobilePKI Solutions for OEM and Solution Developers
Remote Access Authentication for a Mobile Workforce Infographic
Five Guidelines for Supporting Secure Employee Mobility webinar
Implementing user access control for mobile employees - implementation kit
Authentication and Identity Management Index Infographic
Authentication and Identity Management Index Research
MobilePKI Video Demo

About Gemalto
Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO) is the world leader in digital security, with 2014 annual revenues of €2.5 billion and blue-chip customers in over 180 countries.

Gemalto helps people trust one another in an increasingly connected digital world. Billions of people want better lifestyles, smarter living environments, and the freedom to communicate, shop, travel, bank, entertain and work – anytime, everywhere – in ways that are enjoyable and safe. In this fast moving mobile and digital environment, we enable companies and administrations to offer a wide range of trusted and convenient services by securing financial transactions, mobile services, public and private clouds, eHealthcare systems, access to eGovernment services, the Internet and internet-of-things and transport ticketing systems.

Gemalto’s unique technology portfolio - from advanced cryptographic software embedded in a variety of familiar objects, to highly robust and scalable back-office platforms for authentication, encryption and digital credential management - is delivered by our world-class service teams. Our 14,000 employees operate out of 99 offices, 34 personalization and data centers, and 24 research and software development centers located in 46 countries.

For more information visit www.gemalto.com, www.justaskgemalto.com, blog.gemalto.com, or follow @gemalto on Twitter.

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