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ActivCard Debuts Enterprise Access Solutions for Single Sign-On, Secure Remote Access, and Smart Card-Based ID Cards

Integrated, Trusted Digital Identity Product Line Breaks New Ground in Easing
               and Securing Access to PC and Network Resources

    RSA CONFERENCE, SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ActivCard
Corp. (Nasdaq: ACTI), a global provider of strong authentication and trusted
digital identity solutions, today announced availability of its modular
Enterprise Access solutions for government, enterprise, and financial
services.  The new ActivCard integrated architecture makes it easy to securely
issue, use, manage, and deploy additional components of digital identity
infrastructure as needed.
    The new modular ActivCard solutions cover diverse aspects of
identification for users, and allow customers to start with one solution and
upgrade over time.  For example, a customer may decide to reduce the burdens
and costs tied to password management by starting with ActivCard Single
Sign-On, and then later upgrade to a secure logical access-based smart card
solution.  A customer might also decide to reduce expenses for managing legacy
leased tokens by deploying ActivCard tokens instead as a first step -- and
then without disruption, easily move to Single Sign-On or to an Enterprise
Access Card badge that consolidates both physical and network security
credentials at a later date.  The result is a solution set that offers a
dramatic return on investment (ROI) by simplifying the user experience,
securing access to sensitive data and applications, and streamlining
administration and IT help desk functions.
    ActivCard extends, and does not replace, a corporation's existing identity
management systems.  Instead, the ActivCard Enterprise Access solutions
complement corporate LDAP directories for user management, and integrate with
most commonly used provisioning, web SSO and PKI solutions on the market.
This new interoperable architecture enables organizations to maximize the
benefits of Secure Remote Access, Single Sign-On (SSO), and Enterprise Access
Card solutions with the following new software:

    -- ActivCard AAA Server v6.2
           -- Standards-based RADIUS and TACACS+ Authentication,
              Authorization, and Accounting using diverse two-factor device
              options including tokens, soft tokens, USB keys, and smart cards
           -- Supports synchronous and challenge-response authentication with
              patented three-variable algorithm, providing security and
              lowering or eliminating re-synchs
           -- Faster performance as well as distributed authentication servers
              scale to hundreds of thousands of users

    -- ActivCard Single Sign-On Server v5.0
           -- Centralizes password management through Enterprise SSO that
              strengthens security with full-length hardened passwords for
              commonly used enterprise applications, including Microsoft(R)
              Windows, mainframe, JAVA, and web applications
           -- Reduces or eliminates usernames and passwords so users no longer
              have to remember or manage these credentials or perform several
              different login and sign-on tasks
           -- Extends identity management functionality for a central point of
              administration, provisioning and issuance of user accounts and
              digital identity credentials - with the ability to add smart
              card-based authentication for greater security and convenience

    -- ActivCard Card Management System v3.6
           -- Leverages existing digital identity infrastructures through open
              standards support of leading directories, certificate
              authorities, building access systems, and provisioning systems
           -- Provides unparalleled security for trusted, distributed issuance
              and post-issuance management of cards, digital credentials and
              applets
           -- Supports cards from all leading smart card vendors*

    -- ActivClient v5.0
           -- Single client enables smart cards for PC and network login,
              secure remote access, single sign-on and a variety of desktop
              security functions
           -- Supports the leading certificate authorities, allowing
              organizations to use digital certificates that are secured on
              smart cards
           -- Extends the functionality, usability and security of ActivCard
              industry-leading smart card client software.  ActivCard client
              software has been licensed to over 2.3 million users worldwide.

    At their core, the ActivCard modular solutions address the essential
security requirement that organizations face today:  That is, to know with
certainty the identity of individuals connecting to networks, services and
data in today's anytime, anywhere computing environment.  The solution allows
customers to alleviate risks and inefficiencies associated with vulnerable
static passwords by deploying ActivCard strong authentication to secure
communications.  That fundamental commitment to security can be enhanced with
next generation smart card technology capabilities for PKI and other secure
digital identity credentials. With the new modular product design, customers
gain the flexibility to add strong authentication and trusted digital identity
capabilities as requirements evolve -- seamlessly extending and linking to
corporate directories and IT infrastructure.
    "It has become clear that the corporate world needs to be as proactive as
government entities in protecting assets and network boundaries from constant
emerging threats.  ActivCard answers that imperative with leading
authentication solutions," said Frank Bishop, ActivCard Senior Vice President
of Global Sales and Marketing. "Whether you need to manage the proliferation
of user passwords, increase network security through one-time-passwords, or
deploy the non-repudiated security of PKI, ActivCard has the modular solution
set to meet the needs of the organization where it is today.  With this new
unified line of products that evolve to address your future requirements,
ActivCard offers the most comprehensive solution in the marketplace for
trusted digital identity."

    The ActivCard solutions will be demonstrated in Booth # 1201 at the RSA
Conference from February 23-26.

    *  A list of supported smart cards is available from ActivCard Corp.

    About ActivCard
    ActivCard, http://www.activcard.com, is a global provider of strong
authentication and trusted digital identity solutions for secure remote
access, single sign-on and enterprise access cards. Our scalable systems and
strong authentication solutions are trusted by organizations -- from
enterprise to governments around the world. ActivCard delivers maximum Return
On Identity(TM) (ROI) through increased security, reduced cost, and user
convenience. The modular product design allows our customers to add
capabilities as required, preserving their investment.

    The statements in this press release that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including
risks associated with changes in our management team, fluctuations in
operating results, our history of losses, and other risks identified in our
periodic filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission,
including, but not limited to, those appearing under the caption "Risk
Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and in our Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q. Copies of these filings are available from ActivCard and
on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Actual results, events and performance
may differ materially from our forward-looking statements. Readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements,
which speak only as of the date hereof. ActivCard disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    NOTE:  ActivCard is a registered trademark and Return on Identity is a
trademark of ActivCard in the United States and/or other countries.  All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners in the United States
and/or other countries.


SOURCE ActivCard Corp.




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Related links:
  • http://www.activcard.com
    CONTACT:
    Julie White of ActivCard Corporate,
    +1-510-574 1708, or jwhite@activcard.com; or Tom Rice of The
    Merritt Group, +1-703-556-6821, or rice@merrittgrp.com, for
    ActivCard; or Tony Bovill of Consort PR, +44 1344 626171, or
    tony@consortpr.co.uk, for ActivCard