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