Software integrates Mac OS X in Active Directory environments.
Press Release Summary:
DirectControl for Mac OS X, SmartCard Login Option, enables Mac OS X users to join Microsoft Active Directory environments that require 2-factor authentication via smart cards. Run natively on PowerPC-/Intel-based Macs, solution supports Department of Defense Common Access Cards standard. Administrators can centrally control which users may or may not log in to which Macs, while Zones capability allows custom grouping of systems for delegated administration and fine-grained control.
Original Press Release:
Centrify Adds Smart Card Support to Its Solution for Integrating Mac OS X in Active Directory Environments
DirectControl for Mac OS X, Smart Card Login Option to Initially Support the Department of Defense Common Access Card (CAC)
Mountain View, Calif., Feb. 5 -- Centrify Corporation, a leading provider of Microsoft Active Directory-based access control and identity management solutions for non-Microsoft platforms, today announced DirectControl for Mac OS X, SmartCard Login Option, which enables Mac OS X users to join Microsoft Active Directory environments that require two-factor authentication via smart cards. The first smart card standard to be supported is Department of Defense Common Access Cards (CAC), used pervasively throughout the DoD and related agencies to authenticate both military personnel and contractors to systems around the world. DirectControl runs natively on both PowerPC- and Intel-based Macs.
"Providing smart card support for the Mac reflects Centrify's commitment to maintaining parity for non-Microsoft systems by integrating them into the identity management, access control and authentication capabilities of Microsoft Active Directory," said Jim Chappell, Vice President of Field Operations at Centrify. "The millions of smart card users in the Federal government benefit from having the leading provider of Mac-Active Directory integration deliver smart card support."
"The unique combination of rock solid UNIX stability, security and ease-of-use is driving increased adoption of Mac OS X by Federal employees," said Ron Okamoto, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. "We're thrilled that Centrify has taken advantage of the interoperability of Mac OS X to deliver a two-factor smart card authentication solution."
Smart cards are recognized as the de-facto standard for two-factor authentication. For Federal agencies, HSPD12 (Homeland Security Presidential Directive #12) mandates the use of two-factor authentication for all Federal computer systems. To address this requirement, Centrify DirectControl for Mac OS X, SmartCard Login Option enables a user to log in to any DirectControl-enabled system without requiring any special user configuration on the local system, because all authentication and access control data is stored in Microsoft Active Directory. Administrators can use Active Directory to centrally control which users may or may not log in to which Macs. Additionally, Centrify DirectControl's unique Zones capability allows custom grouping of systems for delegated administration and fine-grained control of access.
Centrify DirectControl supports both online and offline login with smart cards, so an organization can require a user who is using a Macintosh on an airplane to authenticate using their smart card. DirectControl also lets administrators leverage the Group Policy capabilities associated with Active Directory to configure Mac OS X systems and ensure that those systems adhere to the organization-wide policies used by Windows systems.
Centrify DirectControl's core feature is its ability to enable UNIX, Linux and Mac systems to participate in an Active Directory domain. The Centrify DirectControl Agent effectively turns the host system into an Active Directory client, enabling organizations to secure that system using the same authentication, access control and Group Policy services currently deployed for their Windows systems.
Pricing and Availability
Centrify DirectControl for Mac OS X is priced at $60 per workstation. The SmartCard Login Option is priced at $30 per workstation. The DirectControl for Mac OS X, SmartCard Login Option will be generally available in early March 2007. Please visit www.centrify.com/mac for more details.
About Centrify
Centrify delivers centralized access control and identity management solutions that seamlessly integrate non-Microsoft systems, web applications, databases and storage systems with Microsoft Active Directory. With Centrify solutions, organizations can improve efficiency, better comply with regulatory requirements and move toward a more secure, connected infrastructure for their heterogeneous computing environment. Centrify is headquartered in Mountain View, California. For more information about Centrify and DirectControl, call +1-650-961-1100 or visit www.centrify.com .
NOTE: Centrify and DirectControl are trademarks of Centrify Corporation. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.
