ASB Chooses RSA SecurID® Authentication

ASB Chooses RSA SecurID® Authentication to Protect Customers from Online Fraud

RSA SecurID® solution provides proven two-factor authentication to leading New Zealand bank.

SYDNEY – RSA Security Inc. (Nasdaq: RSAS) today announced that New Zealand’s ASB and BankDirect have chosen the RSA SecurID® solution to provide strong, two-factor authentication as additional security for all online banking customers. It is the first and only bank in New Zealand to implement a two-factor security solution to its retail customers.

ASB and BankDirect launched SMS messaging – branded Netcode SMS – almost a year ago. Customers receive an SMS message on their mobile phone containing a number that they must enter before banking online to provide secure authentication.

The bank has now introduced the option of RSA SecurID hardware authenticators (tokens) to customers as an alternative to the SMS solution. These tokens are small devices that easily connect to any key ring and – based on RSA Security’s patented time synchronisation technology – generate a simple, one-time authentication code that changes every 60 seconds.

A password in the form of a 6 digit numeric code is displayed on a digital readout window on each device. To access the online banking resource, users simply type in their online banking access code (something they know) plus the code displayed on the device (something they have) at that point in time, providing strong two-factor authentication.

The RSA SecurID authenticator weighs just 21 grams and is designed to be tamper-evident. The device operates in temperatures ranging from -20°C to 65°C and its built-in battery has a life of up to 5 years, with a lifetime warranty.

Unseen by banking customers, the RSA SecurID solution is powered by RSA® Authentication Manager – an enterprise-class authentication software solution that can scale up to support millions of users and hundreds of simultaneous applications. It provides ASB and BankDirect with centralised, easy and cost-effective administration and interoperates with more than 290 networking products and applications out of the box.

“ASB and BankDirect are the only institutions in New Zealand offering this level of security to their retail customers,” said Mark Pullen, Territory Manager, RSA Security. “The fact that 35,000 customers have signed up for the bank’s Netcode security in the past year sends a clear message that the battle against online fraud is a joint responsibility between financial institutions and their customers.

“It also illustrates how ASB continues to lead the way in innovative technology and how the provision of secure technology can assist competitive advantage in their market. The addition of the RSA SecurID technology to ASB and BankDirect’s Netcode security solution will strengthen the robust two-factor authentication offering that will further improve the confidence and protection of online banking customers,” he said.

About RSA Security Inc.

RSA Security Inc. is the expert in protecting online identities and digital assets. The inventor of core security technologies for the Internet, the company leads the way in strong authentication and encryption, bringing trust to millions of user identities and the transactions that they perform. RSA Security’s portfolio of award-winning identity and access management solutions helps businesses to establish who’s who online – and what they can do.

With a strong reputation built on a 20-year history of ingenuity, leadership and proven technologies, we serve approximately 19,000 customers around the globe and interoperate with more than 1,000 technology and integration partners. For more information, please visit www.rsasecurity.com

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