Intercede Regulatory News (IGP)

30 Nov 2005 10:42

Intercede Group PLC30 November 2005 Intercede Group plc Thales provides secured PKI based authentication and messaging solution to theCairo and Alexandria Stock Exchange with help from Intercede's MyID Intercede's MyID to unite Thales Authentication System components helping theCairo and Alexandria Stock Exchange comply with Egyptian digital signature laws. Lutterworth, England, December 1, 2005 - Intercede are pleased to announce thatThales e-Security have been awarded their first contract under the OEM agreementthat Intercede and Thales e-Security signed in April 2004. Thales e-Securityrecently announced that it is providing Misr* Clearing, Settlement and CentralDepository (MSCSD) with a new security system designed to meet new Egyptian lawsregarding the use of digital signatures for electronic trading. The solutionthat Thales is providing consists of a Digital Signature Solution, a PortableSignature Solution and the Authentication System. At the heart of theAuthentication System lies the SafeSign Management Server, powered byIntercede's MyID smart card and identity management system. The full Thales press release is attached. About IntercedeIntercede Group plc is a leading developer and supplier of smart card andidentity management software listed on the London Stock Exchange (IGP LN)(IGP.L). The Group's MyID software manages the secure registration, issuance andlifecycle of digital identities for a wide range of uses. This requires theintegration of multiple technologies and products from many different vendors,including smart cards, biometrics, digital certificates and Open Platformapplets. Intercede's customers cover a range of industries and include Athena SmartcardSolutions, Department of Transport Ireland, Fujitsu, Lloyds TSB, the UK NationalHealth Service (NHS), the Metropolitan Police, PinkRoccade, Royal Bank ofScotland, Ubizen and various US and UK Government agencies and departments. Formore information, visit www.intercede.com. Intercede and MyID are registered trademarks or trademarks in the UK and/or other countries. All other products and services mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies. Enquiries: Intercede Group plcTel. +44 (0) 1455 558111Richard Parris - Chairman & Chief ExecutiveAndrew Walker - Finance Director Thales provides secured PKI based authentication and messaging solution to theCairo and Alexandria Stock Exchange Paris, 15 November 2005 Thales today announced that it has been chosen to provide the security solutionfor online pre and post trade operations on the Cairo and Alexandria StockExchange in Egypt. Due for completion by the end of this year, Thales is providing Misr* Clearing,Settlement and Central Depository (MCSD) with both the authenticationinfrastructure for the exchange as well as security consulting. MCSD performscentral clearing and settlement operations for stocks traded on the Cairo andAlexandria Stock Exchange. This solution will position Egypt as one of the mostadvanced and secure electronic trading systems in the world. In addition, MCSDhas also been chosen to provide clearing and settlement for ARABEX, theforthcoming Pan-Arabian stock exchange. Thales' solution provides a platform fordigital signature based stock trading across the Arab world. The new security system is being designed to meet the new Egyptian lawsregarding the use of digital signatures for electronic trading. This legislationprovides for Government-approved and licensed certificate authorities that willbe able to offer digital X509 Certificate services to customers for strongauthentication and digital signature based transactions. In embracing theopportunities digital signatures provide, MCSD will be offering two levels ofsecurity depending on the type of user. Both solutions will use a smart card andreader. •Digital Signature Solution: This will be used by the broker organisations having online access to the exchange system; the banks which act as custodians, managing shares for high value and corporate customers, and 140 MCSD employees. Digital Signature security provides non-repudiation of trading transactions, which can be expanded to multiple markets, including the Arab Exchange. •Portable Signature Solution: Mobile users, and those sharing internet terminals, can take advantage of the state-of-the-art security solution to trade electronically using a highly portable secure electronic signature device. Proven in global high-value payment systems, the Thales' Personal Security Module provides a stand-alone reader to generate a transaction confirmation code with the user's smart card, minimising interoperability issues and support costs. The authentication system being implemented to provide security for electronictransactions is Thales' SafeSign end-to-end authentication solution. Thisconsists of the SafeSign Management Server which will provide user and tokenlifecycle management; the SafeSign Authentication Server which is capable ofauthenticating any transaction regardless of channel (e.g. phone, internet,letter, etc.); and finally the SafeSign Crypto Module which is a hardwaresecurity module providing a centralised key management function for the securestorage and use of cryptographic keys. Thales is also providing the smart cardsand readers for digital signature and portable solutions. When operational, the system will allow brokers and the banks to receive tradinginstructions by letter or by phone and then log on and strongly authenticatethemselves using their smart card. They will be able to digitally sign tradinginstructions on behalf of clients. Similarly, investors will be able to sendelectronic instructions to their brokers using their SafeSign Personal SecurityModule. The solution will verify the transaction confirmation code and pass theverified instruction on to the broker. SafeSign allows MCSD to automate alltransactions with Brokers and Custodians, including those documents that requireofficial, written signatures. It will also enable MCSD to achieve fast andefficient resolution of any disputes. James Kilazoglou, Managing Director of Thales security business in the UK said:"As a security system for a stock exchange trading system, MCSD's will be one ofthe most advanced in the world. It will give Egypt a world-class infrastructurebased on global best practice. Thales' SafeSign enables MCSD to provide proof ofthe authenticity and integrity of all transactions, vital for a national stocktrading system, whilst ensuring the highest levels of flexibility andfuture-proofing through its ability to authenticate any transaction from anychannel regardless of the PKI or security token deployed. In addition, byapplying Thales' proven security risk management methodologies, we have helpedMCSD to build the policies, practices and procedures necessary to deliver theappropriate mitigation of security. This has been achieved whilst alsodemonstrating compliance with the international security guidelines as definedin the ISO 17799 standard." Mohamed Abdel Salam, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of MCSD, said: "Robustsecurity is essential to provide confidence for trading and, while we areexcited by the potential that digital signatures will bring, we are also adamantthat the security infrastructure to provide this is extremely strong. At thesame, a pivotal reason for MCSD's success is the fact that we have alwaysadopted the most advanced and beneficial technology. With the new PKI platformand SafeSign we get the best of both worlds, robust security and a system thatprovides significant benefits to both our business and our customers. Thales UKhas been able to deliver an enhanced and pioneering security solution that fullymeets our requirements." About Thales Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group, servingdefence, aerospace, s ecurity and services markets worldwide. The Group employs60,000 people throughout the world and generated revenues of 10.3 billion eurosin 2004. Operating in three main markets covering e-security, card payment and networksecurity, Thales' e-Security activities address the business, government andfinance industries' need for cryptographic security products and solutions. Overhalf of the world's banks, together with the majority of the busiest exchanges,currently use Thales technology. For more than 20 years the company has been atthe forefront of security and payment technology, co-operating and contributingto set the industry standards used for financial transactions and e-commerceglobally. Thales e-Security activities offer a wide range of security solutionsto protect Government and Defence critical information infrastructures, therebypositioning the company as a leading worldwide supplier of certified networksecurity products. Thales' Security Systems business line designs, delivers and integrateshigh-technology solutions to protect critical infrastructures for localauthorities and corporate and government customers worldwide. These solutionscover all aspects of security, including site and event security, securityoperation and crisis management centres, secure identification solutions,information system security and environmental security. The company'scomprehensive services offering ranges from security consulting, architecturedefinition and complex systems integration to complete turnkey solutionsincluding the design, installation, operation and maintenance of securitysystems. * Misr is the Arabic name for Egypt This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange