HID Global launches ActivID Tap Authentication platform

     HID Global announced the launch of ActivID Tap Authentication platform, which provides secure and convenient multi-factor authentication for cloud applications and web services. HID Global's new ActivID Tap authentication solution for Microsoft allows users to easily log in to Office365 and other cloud applications and web services by clicking on laptops, tablets, phones and other NFC devices with a smart card. The solution uses award-winning Seos® credential-card technology to enable a one-card "click" experience for organizations to access access control and cloud applications.

     "In multi-app environments where employees may need to log in more than 20 times a day to access corporate data and services, ActivID Tap Authentication improves security and user experience across a variety of enterprise applications with a one-card 'click' login." Tim Phipps, vice President of product Marketing, Identity Division, HID Global, said, "As the first solution to use our authentication services, Microsoft ActivID Tap Authentication reduces the need for complex passwords and eliminates the hassle of entering them. Users can seamlessly access data, log in to cloud resources, and open doors with just one smart card, making it easier than any previous authentication method."

     This new product enables users to authenticate multiple applications and services across multiple terminal devices without having to remember and re-enter additional codes and passwords. Microsoft ActivID Tap authentication is tightly integrated with Windows Server 2012 R2 Active Directory Federated Management Service and HID Global Authentication Cloud service, with no additional annual maintenance and support service fees, and client software and user credentials are incorporated into a flexible subscription-based pricing model.

     "By leveraging Active Directory Federated Management services, HID Global's ActivID Tap authentication service helps IT teams more easily manage multi-user access scenarios and passwords, freeing employees and other end users from the hassle of remembering, retrieving and/or tracking multiple passwords." Andrew Conway, senior director of enterprise Mobile product marketing at Microsoft.

     The solution includes ActivID Tap authentication program, Android Click app, Windows 7 Click client, Authentication cloud service, HID Global's Seos smart card, and optional OMNIKEY USB card reader for Windows 7 terminals that do not include a built-in NFC card reader.