Contactless Smart Cards, RFID, Payment, Transit and Security

Encentuate uses existing building access cards to deliver enterprise access security

Thursday, February 17, 2005

Rebadging just got easier–and cheaper–with a new approach announced recently by Encentuate, that eliminates barriers to stronger access security by combining sign-on/sign-off automation and centralized user access administration. New badges aren’t needed as the company can reuse employee badges.


Avoids the Time and Cost of Rebadging

FOSTER CITY, Calif.–Encentuate, provider of enterprise access security solutions, today announced a new approach that leverages existing building access cards to simplify and secure access to corporate information. Encentuate eliminates the need to invest in new badges as it uses the employee badge already in use by the organization. This innovative solution opens the door to deploying stronger security and providing users with more convenient access to information.

Encentuate eliminates the barriers to deploying stronger access security by combining sign-on/sign-off automation, authentication management, and centralized user access administration. Encentuate’s unique approach enables enterprises to realize immediate benefits and rapid user acceptance without the need for large investments in IT infrastructure.

Encentuate in partnership with RF IDeas, provider of single badge solutions for identification and access, makes it convenient for users to authenticate themselves and automates the log-in and log-out process. Using RFID readers that are plugged into a computer’s USB port, users simply tap their cards and enter a pin to automatically launch all the applications that they use. A second tap of the card automatically logs the user out.

“Show your card, enter your pin, and you’re in,” said Peng T. Ong, CEO and founder of Encentuate. “Our customers love this. It saves time and money by avoiding Big Bang rebadging projects, increases both security and convenience, and is future-proof – a dramatic change from the traditional approaches to access security.”

“Users enjoy being able to use their building access badge, something they carry at all times, for multiple purposes such as facilities access, parking, photo-copying, and time and attendance tracking. Our partnership with Encentuate is exciting because together we solve a critical business issue-the ability to solve the conundrum of making information access more secure and convenient for end users,” said Greg Gliniecki, vice president at RF IDeas. “With our readers and Encentuate software, organizations can now add significant value to their existing physical access badges.”

“RFID based technology is an important trend that is impacting identity and access management solutions. Using existing building access badges for user authentication to computers and network resources extends investment in existing technology, providing security and convenience for users,” said Gerry Gebel, senior analyst at Burton Group. “This convergence of physical and logical access security is a trend that is gaining momentum in the industry.”

The Encentuate solution is being rapidly deployed by organizations that face the challenge of strengthening security while getting employees to adopt stronger forms of security in order to comply with pressure of regulations like Sarbanes-Oxley, HIPAA, GLBA, and SB-1316.

About RF IDeas Inc. RF IDeas is one of the largest manufacturers of proximity and contactless identification and access readers and cards for the identification industry. RF IDeas has shipped over 1 million credential related products to customers worldwide. RF IDeas pioneered the application of physical access control credentials to solving non-door applications such as employee identification, vending and PC access control. RF IDeas experience in developing reader technologies plays a critical role in the evolution and adoption of proximity and contactless smart card technology. For more information on RF IDeas, visit www.RFIDeas.com.

About Encentuate Encentuate (www.encentuate.com) provides enterprise access security solutions that help enterprises simplify, strengthen and track access to their digital assets and physical infrastructure. Encentuate was founded by Peng T. Ong, who previously founded Interwoven, Inc. (Nasdaq:IWOV) and co-founded Match.com. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, Encentuate has offices across North America, in the United Kingdom and Singapore. Its customers span a range of industries, including healthcare, biotechnology, government and financial services. Encentuate has been recognized by SC Magazine as a 2005 finalist for “best access control product” and “best identity management solution.” [end] 

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