‘Roaming’ Credentials Feature Federally Approved Technology

  • Jul 18, 2008
TriCipher has created the first SAFE-BioPharma "roaming" credential to be accepted by the U.S. Federal Public Key Infrastructure Policy Authority (FPKIPA), the interagency body that enforces digital certificate standards for trusted identity authentication across the federal agencies and between federal agencies and outside organizations.

In the past, companies had to designate specific computers that could be used for digital signing, install smart card readers, and distribute smart cards to authorized users -- an incredibly rigid (and costly) approach.

For the first time, private companies can quickly authenticate employees' identities through roaming credentials, which do not require software or hardware installation or administrative privileges on specific computers. Available through TriCipher ID Tool ToGo, roaming credentials enable users to authenticate their identities and digitally sign business-critical documents from any computer or Internet-enabled device -- easing one of the biggest barriers to digital signing adoption.

"Distributed applications and users require flexible identity management technologies such as roaming credentials," said Gerry Gebel, VP and service director at Burton Group, an independent technology-industry analyst company. "The pharmaceutical industry has very challenging collaboration and secure document exchange requirements and has invested a great deal of time and effort to improve their business process through technical innovation."

Science Application International Corporation (SAIC) is the first to deploy SAFE-BioPharma roaming credentials to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries using TriCipher's portable, cost-efficient ID Tool ToGo. Pharmaceutical companies can now simply, securely and more affordably perform electronic business transactions among one another and with government agencies, such as the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

TriCipher's roaming credential enables SAFE-BioPharma members' employees to securely log onto systems and digitally sign documents that require multifactor authentication. SAFE-BioPharma members, which include Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Genzyme, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, National Notary Association, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis and Schering-Plough Corporation, can perform essential functions such as recording clinical trial results and submitting paperwork for new drug documentation from any Internet connection.

"By enabling a mobile credential, TriCipher is simplifying identity management and the ability to digitally sign electronic documents. Its technology and the federal acceptance of SAFE-BioPharma's roaming digital ID will significantly improve business processes in the biopharmaceutical and healthcare industries and their communications with federal and international agencies," said Mollie Shields-Uehling, president and CEO, SAFE-BioPharma Association.

TriCipher's roaming credential gives users on any system Level 3 assurance, meaning that a high level of trust is established through strong authentication using at least two independent authenticating factors. The roaming credential leverages TriCipher ID Tool ToGo, unveiled last year as the first portable, low-cost authentication solution that could be delivered on a multi-use device. One part of the user's credential is generated from ID Tool ToGo, and the other portion is stored on TriCipher's appliance behind the scenes -- requiring only a standard USB drive with ID Tool ToGo to authenticate. The credential aligns with the government's guidance in the National Institute of Standards Technology (NIST) Special Publications 800-63-1 for Level 3 remote authentication, and meets the rigorous requirements for a Federal Medium Assurance Commercial Best Practices identity and digital signing credential.

"Authentication is following the typical pricing and availability trends of other technologies, from limited and expensive to more flexible, convenient and affordable," said John De Santis, TriCipher CEO. "TriCipher is leading the industry past the peak costs, and making strong security expected and achievable for organizations of all sizes in all markets."

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.