RSA and VeriSign team up on cloud-based, two-factor authentication

RSA and VeriSign are working together to provide organizations with the mutual benefit of an expanded VeriSign Identity Protection (VIP) Authentication Service through the availability of RSA SecurID two-factor authentication technology for more choice in one-time password (OTP) authentication. VIP is a managed, shared authentication solution that provides its users with a single OTP authentication device to securely access multiple Web sites.

VeriSign plans to complete the integration of the RSA SecurID Authentication Engine into the VIP Authentication Service by the end of December 2009. At that time, VeriSign will also resell RSA SecurID hardware tokens to VIP prospects and customers, and RSA will likewise resell the VIP Authentication Service to its prospects and customers.

As part of the agreement, the companies will work to transfer all existing RSA GoID customers to the VIP Authentication Service by the end of Q2 2010. RSA will work closely with all existing RSA GoID customers for a smooth, uninterrupted transition to the VIP Authentication Service.

The VIP Authentication Service implements two-factor authentication through VeriSign’s cloud-based Security as a Service (SaaS) model, which enables organizations to accelerate authentication system deployments while driving down per user costs. Currently with more than 100 members on the network worldwide, the VIP Authentication Service enables strong authentication for tens of millions of mobile users. The RSA GoID managed, shared consumer authentication service is designed to identify users before they interact with a Web site or online application.