The First National Bank of Ipswich (FNBI) Deploys Comodo Authentication Solutions To Meet Online Identity Assurance Best Practices

October 26, 2007 (PRLEAP.COM) Technology News
Jersey City, NJ (October 26, 2007) — Comodo, a global Certification Authority and leading provider of Identity and Trust Assurance Management solutions, announced today that The First National Bank of Ipswich (FNBI) has selected a combination of Comodo solutions designed to provide site and user verification. FNBI will deploy Comodo's Two Factor Authentication solution, Comodo EV SSL certificates, and Comodo Content Verification Certificates. Together, these solutions are meant to provide FNBI with an online presence that is secure with a high level of identity assurance.

Based on strong Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), the Comodo solutions deliver a highly secure and innovative way to create a mutual-authentication model that confirms the site and user identity that is easy on the user and the bank. Importantly, these solutions leverage the mature and proven PKI platform so that banks can benefit from a holistic offering that provides ease of deployment, cost effectiveness, and a highly secure PKI platform for mutual authentication processes.

"We've chosen Comodo because they understand how to leverage the best-in-breed security while maintaining the convenience and ease-of-use of our online banking system," said Linda George, AVP of Support Service at The First National Bank of Ipswich. "From a total cost of ownership, Comodo's authentication system provided rapid integration with minimal rollout dependencies, which was a major advantage over any other solutions considered."

Maryjon Brett, SVP of IT & Operations for The First National Bank of Ipswich notes, "Our original two-factor solution was somewhat cumbersome. So we are very excited about the multiple solutions provided by Comodo. The addition of the Comodo EV SSL certificates and Comodo Content Verification Certificates solutions to their Two Factor Authentication solution allows us to stand-by our commitment to offer our customers user friendly state-of-the-art security solutions for their online transactions."
COMODO SOLUTION SUMMARY
1) Two Factor (TF) Client Certificates are a User Authentication Solution that is a High-Performance, Low Cost Solution Requiring Little Integration

Financial institutions are under pressure to comply with Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) guidelines to strengthen their mutual authentication processes for online banking transactions. With Comodo TF, FNBI can support a high-performance two- factor solution while reducing operating costs. This two-factor solution offers significant advantages over other two factor solutions:

* One of the only PKI-based two factor solutions which analysts consider as one of the strongest forms of authentication available for online security
* Low cost solution due to an established PKI infrastructure and digital certificate lifecycle management processes
* Virtually the easiest multi-layer solution for customers to adopt because there is no change in members' online banking behavior once a DigitalID has been created. Customers conveniently continue to use their existing usernames and passwords.
* High level of flexibility and configurability and solution can be deployed in days
* Ease of customer support

2) EV SSL Certificates

These high assurance certificates provide encryption and authentication of business identity with a new confirming green indicator in the address bar delivered through the browser interface confirming site identity. This new class of SSL Certificates provides a new level of identity assurance for online banking customers and is a critical component of a fully integrated identity and trust assurance best practices approach to a trusted online banking experience.
3) Content Verification Certificates (CVC) protects customers from phishing, pharming, and man-in-the-middle attacks

Comodo's unique Content Verification Certificates authenticates web content (such as a log-in box or graphics) to authenticate site identity. This is the only digital certificate on the market today that protects against man-in-the middle attacks as this solution alone delivers non-browser "green good to go" indicator confirming site identity.

With this technology, FNBI customers can verify the site's identity using a free plug-in (VerificationEngine) that immediately informs customers they are at the genuine FNBI website and not a spoofed Phishing site.

Comodo's authentication solutions were developed specifically to address diverse, complex and urgent needs of financial institutions for a solution that is configurable and practical. "The continuing pressure on banks to introduce new online banking services while maintaining security is an important challenge," said Melih Abdulhayoglu, CEO and Chief Security Architect of Comodo. "These solutions are based on PKI, a highly recognized security standard yet are non-intrusive to the online banking experience. Comodo delivers compliance, security within an architecture that is easy on banks and their customers."

For more information, please visit www.comodo.com/banking