- Email: [email protected]
O Software and Intel plug Bios gap
BTT JUNE
6/4/01
11:56 AM
Page 1
(Black plate)
ISSN 0969-4765
www.compseconline.com
June 2001
Volume 9 Number 3
Corporate News
Saflink battles on for its VC deal Despite warning of imminent company closure last month, US software supplier Saflink is still open for business. The company managed to secure bridging loans to the tune of US$440,000 in April and May, but its fate now hangs on the completion of a US$8-10 million venture capital deal. The financing deal is said to be imminent and would be large enough to bail the company out of its immediate debt problems, as well as providing a lump sum to help revitalise the company’s fortunes. If Saflink is successful in raising the money, it will have to make moves to address its high operating costs, which
amounted to US$9.9 million in 2000. Saflink’s VP of business development Walter Hamilton told Btt: “To date, the company is fully operational and has not made any significant staff layoffs. Once we raise the capital, we will have to look at restructuring to make the most optimum use of the funds in this round of financing.” Hamilton commented that the bridge loans it has received are a strong indication of the investors’ belief in Saflink’s future. Although Saflink’s first quarter results for 2001 do not yet demonstrate an upturn in revenue generation, Hamilton said it has a number of potentially major customers
Contact: Walter Hamilton at Saflink, Tel: +1 425 881 6766, email: [email protected]
Contents
IT Security
I/O Software and Intel plug Bios gap I/O Software and Intel Corporation have announced they will work together to specify a messaging interface between Intel’s Protected Access Architecture (IPAA) and I/O’s SecureSuite/BAPI technology. Essentially the messaging interface will allow pre-boot and post-boot authentication engines to communicate with each other and synchronise authentication data on mobile PCs. I/O Software believes that OEMs want software that supports several devices (such as tokens, smart cards and biometrics), a standard interface and singlestep logon. This announcement, the supplier claims, will bring together all these requirements for the first time. Rolf Boegli, director of marketing at I/O Software, told Btt: “Three years ago our biometric offerings covered the post-operating
that plan to use biometric technology for their IT security systems in the mediumterm. For the first quarter of 2001, revenues reached US$172,000 at the company, compared with US$416,000 in the first quarter of 2000. Net losses deepened to US$3.0 million for the quarter from US$2.0 million in the first quarter of 2000. Boston-based firm HC Wainwright is co-ordinating the deal through its New York office.
system domain, one year ago we helped to standardise the operating system itself through our collaboration with Microsoft, now we are helping to standardise the preboot domain. Essentially all the puzzle pieces are now in place.” The IPAA specifications are almost complete, although for now they only cover tokens and fingerprint devices. For the operating system layer, I/O Software will integrate the code into a future release of its SecureSuite biometric authentication software suite under Microsoft Windows 9x, Me, NT, 2000 and XP. Contact: Rolf Boegli at I/O Software, Tel: +1 909 222 7600, Fax: +1 909 222 7601, email: [email protected]
Product news In brief
3 4
News feature: 5 Real life biometric testing - a report on the latest UK BWG tests Feature: 7 Schools learn about the benefits of biometrics Survey: Computer security issues Regulars: Events Business Watch Comment
ISSN 0969-4765/01/$20.00 © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved This journal and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by Elsevier Science Ltd, and the following terms and conditions apply to their use: Photocopying Single photocopies of single articles may be made for personal use as allowed by national copyright laws. Permission of the publisher and payment of a fee is required for all other photocopying, including multiple or systematic copying, copying for advertising or promotional purposes, resale, and all forms of document delivery. Special rates are available for educational institutions that wish to make photocopies for non-profit educational classroom use.
9
3 4 12
6/4/01
11:56 AM
Page 1
(Black plate)
ISSN 0969-4765
www.compseconline.com
June 2001
Volume 9 Number 3
Corporate News
Saflink battles on for its VC deal Despite warning of imminent company closure last month, US software supplier Saflink is still open for business. The company managed to secure bridging loans to the tune of US$440,000 in April and May, but its fate now hangs on the completion of a US$8-10 million venture capital deal. The financing deal is said to be imminent and would be large enough to bail the company out of its immediate debt problems, as well as providing a lump sum to help revitalise the company’s fortunes. If Saflink is successful in raising the money, it will have to make moves to address its high operating costs, which
amounted to US$9.9 million in 2000. Saflink’s VP of business development Walter Hamilton told Btt: “To date, the company is fully operational and has not made any significant staff layoffs. Once we raise the capital, we will have to look at restructuring to make the most optimum use of the funds in this round of financing.” Hamilton commented that the bridge loans it has received are a strong indication of the investors’ belief in Saflink’s future. Although Saflink’s first quarter results for 2001 do not yet demonstrate an upturn in revenue generation, Hamilton said it has a number of potentially major customers
Contact: Walter Hamilton at Saflink, Tel: +1 425 881 6766, email: [email protected]
Contents
IT Security
I/O Software and Intel plug Bios gap I/O Software and Intel Corporation have announced they will work together to specify a messaging interface between Intel’s Protected Access Architecture (IPAA) and I/O’s SecureSuite/BAPI technology. Essentially the messaging interface will allow pre-boot and post-boot authentication engines to communicate with each other and synchronise authentication data on mobile PCs. I/O Software believes that OEMs want software that supports several devices (such as tokens, smart cards and biometrics), a standard interface and singlestep logon. This announcement, the supplier claims, will bring together all these requirements for the first time. Rolf Boegli, director of marketing at I/O Software, told Btt: “Three years ago our biometric offerings covered the post-operating
that plan to use biometric technology for their IT security systems in the mediumterm. For the first quarter of 2001, revenues reached US$172,000 at the company, compared with US$416,000 in the first quarter of 2000. Net losses deepened to US$3.0 million for the quarter from US$2.0 million in the first quarter of 2000. Boston-based firm HC Wainwright is co-ordinating the deal through its New York office.
system domain, one year ago we helped to standardise the operating system itself through our collaboration with Microsoft, now we are helping to standardise the preboot domain. Essentially all the puzzle pieces are now in place.” The IPAA specifications are almost complete, although for now they only cover tokens and fingerprint devices. For the operating system layer, I/O Software will integrate the code into a future release of its SecureSuite biometric authentication software suite under Microsoft Windows 9x, Me, NT, 2000 and XP. Contact: Rolf Boegli at I/O Software, Tel: +1 909 222 7600, Fax: +1 909 222 7601, email: [email protected]
Product news In brief
3 4
News feature: 5 Real life biometric testing - a report on the latest UK BWG tests Feature: 7 Schools learn about the benefits of biometrics Survey: Computer security issues Regulars: Events Business Watch Comment
ISSN 0969-4765/01/$20.00 © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved This journal and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by Elsevier Science Ltd, and the following terms and conditions apply to their use: Photocopying Single photocopies of single articles may be made for personal use as allowed by national copyright laws. Permission of the publisher and payment of a fee is required for all other photocopying, including multiple or systematic copying, copying for advertising or promotional purposes, resale, and all forms of document delivery. Special rates are available for educational institutions that wish to make photocopies for non-profit educational classroom use.
9
3 4 12