Indiana University Deploys VASCO's DIGIPASS, Offering Faculty and Staff Secure Access to Its Data and Online Applications
OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. and ZURICH - VASCO Data Security International, Inc. (Nasdaq: VDSI) (www.vasco.com), a leading software security company specializing in authentication products, announced today that Indiana University (www.indiana.edu/) has deployed DIGIPASS® authentication to provide secure access to its institutional data and online applications. Information and information technology are of great importance to Indiana University, and VASCO's DIGIPASS® authentication system helps protect both resources, while facilitating widespread and appropriate use.
Grounded in the liberal arts and sciences, Indiana University is a major, multi-campus public research institution and a world leader in professional, medical, and technological education. Over 107,000 students are currently enrolled in a wide variety of academic programs on eight campuses across the state, with large, core campuses in Bloomington and Indianapolis. Faculty and staff at the University number around 19,000.
Indiana University already had a two-factor authentication solution in place, providing real time access to academic, financial, and HR records in the University's administrative database. Authorized faculty and staff manage records for Indiana University students from admission through graduation, as well as payroll processing tasks, financial and HR information, and various purchasing and accounts processes. To maintain data integrity and confidentiality of student records and financial data, the University mandates the use of two-factor authentication to access centralized administrative systems.
While a device-based, two-factor authentication solution had been in place for many years, Indiana University chose VASCO's DIGIPASS technology in modernizing its authentication infrastructure. In contrast to many corporate environments, Indiana University has a heterogeneous desktop computing environment which includes university and personally-owned Windows- and Macintosh- based computers located on its eight campuses, in residence halls, and at home. Indiana University needed an authentication solution that could be natively integrated into its infrastructure without requiring the installation of software.
"We were looking for a proven security solution to authenticate users with different roles to varying applications," said Alan Walsh, manager of Identity Management Systems at Indiana University. "VASCO's DIGIPASS technology offered us the opportunity to utilize two-factor authentication in many areas, maintaining the privacy and security of sensitive information without impeding legitimate use. Further, VASCO's authentication devices offer a reduced total cost of ownership, and they're durable and waterproof."
DIGIPASS technology adds an additional security layer to traditional password-based security. At the push of a button, DIGIPASS generates a dynamic one-time password. When requested during the log-in procedure, University faculty and staff members enter the one-time password into the interface, providing positive proof of identity.
"The combination of data integrity and availability of business-critical information still remains a significant challenge for every organization," said Jan Valcke, President and COO of VASCO Data Security. "As budgets tighten, educational facilities see the value in deploying affordable authentication methods to secure access to the data stored on the network and within online applications. DIGIPASS technology provides an effective and thrifty solution to suit Indiana University's long-term authentication needs."
About Indiana University:
In addition to providing its students one of the nation's best and most advanced computing, networking, and technology support environments, Indiana University is a leader in the development and application of information technology through the management of state, national, and international research networks; participation in such high performance computing initiatives as the National Science Foundation's TeraGrid and FutureGrid; partnerships with other top-tier universities on open source software development; and nationally recognized expertise in cybersecurity.
About VASCO
VASCO is a leading supplier of strong authentication and e-signature solutions and services specializing in Internet security applications and transactions. VASCO has positioned itself as a global software company for Internet security serving a customer base of approximately 10,000 companies in more than 100 countries, including more than 1,700 international financial institutions. VASCO's prime markets are the financial sector, enterprise security, e-commerce and e-government.
For more information contact:
Jochem Binst, +32 2 609 97 00, jbinst@vasco.com
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/VASCODataNews
SOURCE VASCO Data Security International, Inc.
Web Site: www.indiana.edu
