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Virginia Tech Implements Aladdin eToken USB Smart Device for Secure Enterprise Technology
Initiative
Goal to provide 25,000 students and staff with eTokens for secure digital certificate
storage, strong security for growing PKI use
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CHICAGO, December 4, 2006 -
Aladdin Knowledge Systems (Nasdaq:ALDN), the leader in Software DRM, strong authentication
and content security solutions, today announced that Virginia Tech, home of the
state's largest full-time student population, selected the Aladdin eToken USB strong
authentication device to begin its Personal Digital Certificate (PDC) initiative
aimed at providing powerful security and easy implementation for fast-expanding
use of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) throughout campus.
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The university's smart device selection team, responsible for evaluation and selection
of a smart device, chose Aladdin eToken to begin their use of USB smart devices
to securely store personal digital credentials issued for faculty and staff in the
initial phase of deployment. The implementation of PKI began with the establishment
of the Virginia Tech Certificate Authority (VTCA) in April of 2003, which was established
to provide SSL server certificates to the campus community. Virginia Tech's next
major phase of deployment includes 500 Aladdin eToken devices given to Information
Technology faculty and staff during the last quarter of 2006. Each personal digital
certificate to be issued by Virginia Tech is stored on an Aladdin eToken.
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The eToken provides strong two-factor authentication by requiring a person to have
both physical possession of the eToken (something you have) together with knowledge
of the eToken's associated password (something you know) to use the identity credential
stored on the eToken. eTokens provide a secure and portable solution for storing
user private keys and digital certificate credentials. With the ability to use digital
signatures, Virginia Tech plans to increase efficiencies and productivity for faculty
and staff by moving business processes online in situations where pen and ink signatures
are currently required. Other anticipated uses include the digital signing of emails,
client SSL authentication, and Web Sign On (WSO).
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"We needed a secure way for users to store their digital credentials and realized
that the best way would be to use a portable, secure smart device that proves to
be reliable, flexible and secure," said Frank Galligan, project manager of Virginia
Tech's eProvisioning Group that is driving the university's PKI initiative. "After
evaluating several token providers, we decided on Aladdin eToken. When looking at
the device selection, an important consideration was multi-platform support. Aladdin's
clear commitment to multi-platform support impressed us, as we're not a completely
Windows shop and it was important to also accommodate Linux and MAC OS in a university
environment."
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Starting with the university's initial use within the Information Technology department,
there are plans to expand personal digital certificate deployments to include other
departments at the university. Eventually working toward the goal of providing a
smart device to more than 25,000 students, faculty and staff, Virginia Tech's PKI
initiative continues in multiple phases spanning two or more years of comprehensive,
well-planned deployments.
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"The highly flexible and durable nature of using Aladdin eToken PRO is ideal for
higher education community," said Dan Pfeifle, senior director, eToken for Aladdin
North America. "Faculty, students, administrators and alumni can seamlessly use
the device in any USB port while ensuring strong two-factor authentication to gain
access to protected resources. Virginia Tech's deployment of eToken further demonstrates
Aladdin's experience in providing strong two-factor authentication solutions to
the higher education community."
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About Virginia Tech eProvisioning Group
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The eProvisioning group, a unit within the office of Secure Enterprise Technology
Initiatives (SETI) at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia is responsible for leading
the PKI initiative at the university. Secure Enterprise Technology Initiatives was
formed within the Information Technology organization to focus on developing secure
applications, middleware, and interfaces to support the university's computing and
network services. The department works in conjunction with the IT Security Office
to enforce auditable security standards that address privacy issues while providing
a balance between system usability and system security. SETI consists of five units:
Collaborative Technologies (CTU), e-Provisioning, Microsoft Implementation Group
(MIG), Middleware, and Test and Deployment (TAD).
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Founded in 1872 as a land-grant college named Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical
College, Virginia Tech is now a comprehensive, innovative research university with
the largest full-time student population in Virginia. Through its focus on teaching
and learning, research and discovery, and outreach and engagement, Virginia Tech
continually strives to accomplish the charge of its motto: Ut Prosim (That I May
Serve). Visit www.vt.edu.
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About Aladdin eToken
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Aladdin eToken is the world leader for USB-based authentication
solutions. It provides strong user authentication and cost-effective password management
solutions enabling organizations to easily and effectively expand business opportunities
with secure network access, improve data security through enhanced encryption and
digital signing, and reduce costs and vulnerabilities through superior password
management. For more information, please visit www.Aladdin.com/eToken.
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About Aladdin
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Aladdin Knowledge Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ALDN), founded in 1985, is a global provider
of security solutions. Its security products are organized into two segments: Software
Digital Rights Management (DRM) and Enterprise Security. Aladdin's
Software DRM products allow software developers and publishers to protect their
intellectual property, increase revenues through licensing, and reduce losses from
software piracy. Aladdin's Enterprise Security solutions enable organizations to
secure their information technology assets by controlling who has access to their
networks (identity and password management) and what content
their users can utilize (proactive content security). Aladdin
has offices in 10 countries, a worldwide network of channel partners and holds numerous
industry awards for innovation and reliability. For more information, please visit
the Aladdin Web site at www.Aladdin.com.
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of their respective holders.
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Press Contact:
Matthew Zintel
Zintel Public Relations
310.574.8888
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Investor Relations Contact:
Debbie Kaye
Aladdin Investor Relations
investor@aladdin.com
646.468.0481
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