Pointsec and Axalto Team Up to Provide Enterprises With Advanced Data Protection

Business Wire, Dec 5, 2005

AUSTIN, Texas & CHICAGO -- Axalto, the world's leading provider of microprocessor cards, and Pointsec Mobile Technologies, the leading provider of mobile data protection, have teamed up to provide enterprises with a highly secure data access solution for mobile computing devices. Pointsec will integrate Protiva(TM) smart cards and strong authentication tokens from Axalto with its data encryption solutions for stronger and more secure access to endpoint devices such as desktops and laptops.

"Axalto's technologies add two-factor authentication to our full-disk encryption solutions. This will provide customers with greatly enhanced security for their endpoint equipment - a clear necessity after this year's data breach events and identity theft attempts," said Peter Larsson, CEO of Pointsec Mobile Technologies. "We are confident that our interoperability with Protiva smart cards and strong authentication devices will provide customers advanced protection for data privacy, endpoint security and regulatory compliance."

With this solution, data on endpoint devices is secured with full disk encryption. The credentials used to instantly decrypt and access the data are stored on a personalized security device such as a Protiva smart card or token and used each time a user logs on to his system. This process will help ensure that customers' data is protected from unauthorized parties and will help organizations meet government regulations such as the EU Privacy Directive, Gramm-Leach-Bliley (GLBA) and California SB 1386.

By integrating their technologies, Axalto and Pointsec are addressing a common concern of enterprises: unauthorized access to the organization's network data. Corporate "secrets," such as strategic planning, research, product development and marketing data are widely distributed throughout each enterprise on endpoint devices such as desktops and laptops. Unless properly protected, these devices are highly vulnerable to data theft.

"As part of a comprehensive corporate security policy, it is critically important that enterprises protect information stored on endpoint devices to ensure the privacy and protection of personal and proprietary information," said Francois Lasnier, vice president, Axalto North America Access. "Our Protiva smart cards and tokens already offer enterprise customers a secure and convenient way to protect against unauthorized access to corporate facilities and resources. Now combined with Pointsec's full disk encryption solutions, it provides an additional level of security by increasing the security of endpoint devices."

About Axalto

Axalto (Euronext: NL0000400653 AXL) is the world's leading provider of microprocessor cards (Gartner 2005, Frost & Sullivan 2004) -- the key to digital networks -- and a major supplier of point-of-sale terminals. Its 4,500 employees come from over 65 nationalities and serve customers in more than 100 countries, with worldwide sales exceeding 3 billion smart cards to date. The company has 25 years of experience in smart card innovation and leads its industry in security technology and open systems.

Axalto continuously creates new generations of products for use in a variety of applications in the telecommunications, finance, retail, transport, entertainment, healthcare, personal identification, information technology and public sector markets. Microprocessor cards provide convenience, security and privacy to public and private services operators, their customers and end users. www.axalto.com

About Pointsec

Pointsec is the worldwide de facto standard for mobile device security - with the most customers deployed, highest level of certification and more complete device coverage than any other company. Pointsec delivers a trusted solution for automatic data encryption that guarantees proven protection at the most vulnerable point where sensitive enterprise data is stored - on mobile devices. By securing sensitive information stored on laptops, PDAs, smartphones, and removable media, enterprises and government organizations can protect and enhance their image, minimize risk, shield confidential data, guard information assets, and strengthen public and shareholder confidence. Pointsec's customers include blue chip companies and government organizations around the world. Founded in 1988, Pointsec Mobile Technologies AB is a wholly owned subsidiary of Protect Data AB, publicly traded (PROT) on the Stockholm stock exchange. The company has two U.S. offices, nine EMEA offices, two APAC offices and one branch office in Dubai, Middle East. Pointsec can be found on the web at: www.pointsec.com.