OVERLAND PARK, Kan.----Positive Networks, the leading provider of hosted security services, today announced PhoneFactor, the industry’s first free, phone-based authentication service. PhoneFactor uses any phone as the second authentication factor, eliminating the need to purchase and manage expensive tokens. Because employees can use their own phones, PhoneFactor eliminates the need to carry an external authentication device. PhoneFactor provides a higher standard of security technology that traditional smart cards, soft tokens and USB authentication devices can’t provide.

PhoneFactor is offered as a free service for companies who want a powerful and simple means of authenticating end users. The product includes everything an enterprise needs to roll out a complete two-factor authentication service, including unlimited users and authentications, and includes support for VPN appliances, Citrix, and Microsoft Outlook Web Access. It also includes free authentication calls within the U.S. Positive Networks will offer additional features on a fee basis, such as multi-server support, directory integration, international authentication, reporting and auditing, and support and product maintenance packages.

PhoneFactor is a web-based service that can be set up within minutes and without the purchase of hardware or packaged software. The service is easy to implement and seamlessly integrates with existing Microsoft Internet Information Server IIS, Microsoft Active Directory, and RADIUS servers. No software is installed on the phone, and users can easily be set up through a simple Active Directory import. Positive Networks also provides 24x7 end user and IT administrator support.

“Everyone knows that password protection alone is insecure. The problem is that traditional two-factor tokens are expensive and nobody wants to carry them,” said Tim Sutton, CEO, Positive Networks. “Since almost everyone has a cell phone, it makes sense to use it as an authentication device.”

How It Works

A user enters a username and password into an application. PhoneFactor acts as a secondary authentication and calls the user’s pre-designated phone number. An outgoing message is played, providing instructions to the user. The user then presses the # key or enters a session PIN and presses #, depending on the mode selected, to confirm the login attempt. PhoneFactor authentication is only invoked if the initial username and password are correct.

Setup is easy. An administrator simply installs the PhoneFactor agent directly on the server to be protected, such as a Citrix Server or Microsoft Internet Information Server, or sets up a pass-through RADIUS authentication server. Administrators can customize features through a web-based management interface.

In addition, PhoneFactor offers key security features not normally available from two-factor authentication systems, including Live Fraud Alert and Anti-Phishing Technology. With Live Fraud Alert, PhoneFactor is the only two-factor authentication system in the world that allows for instant attack detection. Every authentication attempt in which the attacker knows the user’s username and password will generate a phone call to the true user. That user can immediately contact support, just by pressing a key combination during the authentication phone call, and IT can take appropriate action on the spot.

Key Benefits include:

• Secure two-factor authentication
• No special consulting or training
• No inconvenient tokens or USB devices
• No client software to deploy
• No equipment to purchase
• Easy to set up, manage, and use
• 24/7 support

Key Features include:

• Microsoft Internet Information Server IIS and RADIUS integration
• Import from Active Directory users' names and phone numbers
• Web-based sign up
• Centralized Web reporting
• Standard and PIN modes with customizable rules
• SSL communication between agent and POP – easy to set up and maintain
• Master/slave replication between servers
• Phone number or PIN changes from the Web or phone menu interface
• Customizable customer support phone caller ID and direct connect
• Customized greetings
• End user welcome e-mail support

PhoneFactor is ideally suited to replace smart cards and tokens for a variety of applications that require strong authentication, such as:

Application Access - Once users are connected and authenticated to the network, they need to access enterprise applications, which often require their own authentication methods, typically passwords. PhoneFactor strengthens user authentication for business applications like Citrix, Outlook Web Access, SAP and more.

Remote Access - Remote Access is the most vulnerable entry point to IT resources since it is open to attacks originating from outside the organization’s physical perimeter. PhoneFactor enables strong authentication for a wide variety of remote applications such as Positive Networks PositivePRO, Juniper, Cisco, Aventail, SonicWALL, F5 and more.

Workstation and Network Access - Within the perimeter of the organization, strong authentication allows enterprises to ensure that only authorized users access workstations and wired or wireless networks. This issue is even more crucial in the case of mobile users with laptops that can be easily lost or stolen. PhoneFactor enables secure access to leading operating systems and networks, including Windows^TM Unix®, Novell®, thin clients and wireless networks.

About Positive Networks

Positive Networks is the leading provider of hosted security services, including the award-winning PositivePRO VPN service and the PhoneFactor two-factor authentication service. The PositivePRO VPN service provides secure remote access and endpoint security without an SSL VPN appliance. PhoneFactor is the industry's first easy-to-use phone-based two-factor authentication service. Both services can be set up quickly, and include 24x7 end user and IT administrator support.

Unlike traditional VPN solutions, PositivePRO is easy to implement, and requires no hardware for IT managers to purchase, install or maintain. The managed service combines a client-based VPN, a clientless, web-based SSL VPN and remote desktop control into a single remote access service that scales to support thousands of users. Positive Networks’ PhoneFactor service enables two-factor authentication using any phone, instead of requiring expensive tokens. PhoneFactor makes two-factor authentication available for anyone that needs security when accessing critical information.

Positive Networks was awarded “Best-in-Class” Managed SSL VPN Service Provider for SMBs by Stratecast Partners and was an AlwaysON AO100 selection. PositivePRO is a 2006 IT Week Magazine, Network Technology, Service Provider Weekly, Security Week, PC News Weekly, Hosting Weekly, and WebWeek Magazine “Editor’s Choice” selection, and an Info Security Product Guide Product Excellence Award winner for Best SSL VPN Managed Service. The company was a finalist for a 2007 SC Magazine Excellence Award. For more information, please call 877-932-8671 or visit www.positivenetworks.com or www.phonefactor.net.

PositivePRO, PhoneFactor and Positive Networks are trademarks of Positive Networks; all other company, product and publication names are trademarks of their respective holders.